Canada has reinstated sanctions on 11 Iranian entities over concerns about their alleged links to the country's nuclear programme, ballistic missile development and financial networks supporting its strategic activities.
The measures were announced by Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand at a Group of Seven (G7) foreign ministers' meeting in Paris. Ottawa said the sanctions aim to restrict access to financing, technology and commercial support that could strengthen Tehran's nuclear and missile capabilities.
The decision follows concerns over Iran's cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and what Canada describes as its continued failure to meet international obligations.
Canada previously lifted sanctions against the same 11 entities in 2016, following the implementation of the 2015 nuclear agreement between Iran and world powers.
The renewed restrictions cover key sectors of Iran's economy, including energy, shipping, banking and nuclear-related industries.
The targeted entities include the National Iranian Oil Company, National Iranian Tanker Company, Bank Mellat, Bank Melli and the Export Development Bank of Iran, alongside firms involved in fuel procurement and nuclear fuel production.
Canadian officials say the organisations help finance or support activities connected to Iran's strategic programmes.
The announcement comes amid persistent tensions between Tehran and Western governments over Iran's nuclear ambitions.
The U.S., European powers and Israel have raised concerns that Iran's nuclear programme could eventually enable it to develop weapons. Tehran rejects the allegations, maintaining that its nuclear activities are exclusively peaceful.
Despite the tensions, diplomatic efforts remain under way. Iranian officials recently submitted nuclear proposals through Qatari mediators, according to reports, although major disagreements persist between Tehran and Washington over the conditions for negotiations.
Iran has reportedly demanded sanctions relief, access to frozen assets and compensation linked to the conflict before entering substantive talks. Washington, meanwhile, insists that nuclear issues must be addressed from the outset.
The sanctions also come after remarks by Mohsen Rezaei, a senior Iranian security official, who suggested Tehran had discussed whether to reconsider its long-standing opposition to nuclear weapons if hostilities escalate.
Rezaei emphasised that no decision had been made, but his comments drew international attention and heightened concerns over Iran's future nuclear policy.
Ottawa's decision marks a tougher approach towards Iran, following years of broadly aligning its policies with international diplomatic efforts.
Reinstating sanctions lifted under the 2015 nuclear deal signals Canada's growing unease over Tehran's nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.
Canadian officials said the measures are intended to increase economic pressure on entities linked to those activities and reinforce international efforts to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
The move adds Canada to a growing group of governments tightening economic restrictions on Tehran, even as diplomatic efforts to resolve the nuclear dispute continue against a backdrop of regional instability.
German defence firm Helsing is preparing to unveil new AI targeting software amid growing European concerns over reliance on U.S. technology,...
Pakistani and Saudi investors have agreed to launch a private equity fund worth hundreds of millions, with 75 per cent of the money set to be inves...
Canada has reinstated sanctions on 11 Iranian entities over concerns about their alleged links to the country's nuclear programme, ballistic mi...
The gunman who allegedly killed six people in Poland’s unprecedented mass shooting in central Kraków on Saturday has died in hospital, police said early Monday. The attacker had demonstrated advanced military-style marksmanship skills, according to a spokesperson for the shooting club he attended.
Monday marks the second of two days of national mourning in Poland as police bolstered security after six people were killed in a mass shooting in Kraków.
Russia and Ukraine are set to return to Abu Dhabi on Tuesday for a fourth round of U.S.-brokered peace talks, with European participation, security guarantees and territorial disputes expected to shape the negotiations.
Nvidia has launched an independent investigation into whether its chief executive, Jensen Huang, was targeted in a foreign intelligence operation, following allegations that a businesswoman with whom he had a relationship passed information to Beijing.
At least 17 people have been reported killed in an explosion at a steel plant in western Türkiye, after a crane collapsed during maintenance work. The disaster has prompted a criminal investigation into what went wrong at the industrial facility.
German defence firm Helsing is preparing to unveil new AI targeting software amid growing European concerns over reliance on U.S. technology, while Britain has pledged $121 million to strengthen surveillance of Russian submarines.
An alleged affair between Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang and a Chinese businesswoman suspected of spying for Beijing helped channel at least $7.5 billion worth of Nvidia chips to Chinese firms, The Information reported on Tuesday.
Delegations from Russia, Ukraine and the United States met in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday for their first formal talks in nine months. They did so with no agreement on what a ceasefire would be tied to or who gets to keep the land currently under Russian control.
Eight people, including two police reservists and five construction workers, were killed on Tuesday when suspected al-Shabaab militants ambushed a convoy escorting road workers near Kenya’s border with Somalia, police and a senior regional official said.
Eleven people were killed on Tuesday when dozens of vehicles crashed on both sides of a fog-covered motorway in eastern Bulgaria, Prime Minister Rumen Radev said.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment