The Canadian government announced on Friday, August 14, that it had imposed sanctions on five military and political officials of the Iranian regime. According to Ottawa, the move was taken in response to these individuals’ roles in actions that undermine international peace, security, and stability.
Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand said the individuals had been designated under the Special Economic Measures (Iran) Regulations. According to the Canadian government, the actions of those sanctioned—including threatening freedom of navigation in and around the Strait of Hormuz—are contrary to international law.
US Treasury Secretary: The Iranian Regime Will Be Isolated in a Way the World Has Never Seen
Among those sanctioned is Ali Abdollahi, the former commander of Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters. On August 10, he was appointed as the new chief of staff of the Iranian regime’s Armed Forces under a decree attributed to Mojtaba Khamenei.
Anand said that freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz is vital for global trade and energy security, and that the new sanctions target individuals whose actions undermine these principles and threaten the world’s economic and energy security.
Four Other Officials Added to the Sanctions List
Canada also sanctioned Ebrahim Zolfaghari, spokesperson for Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters; Ebrahim Azizi, chairman of the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of the Iranian regime’s parliament; Shahram Irani, commander of the Iranian regime’s Navy; and Hamid Hosseini, chairman of the board and spokesperson for the Iranian Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Products Exporters Union.
The sanctions come as the Strait of Hormuz has become one of the main focal points of regional tensions and disputes over maritime security and energy transportation.
Asset Freezes and Entry Ban
Under Canada’s sanctions regulations, conducting transactions with individuals on the sanctions list is prohibited, and any assets they may hold in Canada will be frozen.
Individuals and entities subject to Canadian law, both within Canada and, in some cases, abroad, are also prohibited from making property or financial resources available to the sanctioned individuals.
Those placed on the sanctions list will also be subject to a ban on entering Canada.
