Canada has announced new sanctions targeting five senior Iranian officials for their involvement in activities that have obstructed navigation rights in and around the Strait of Hormuz. The sanctions, imposed under the Special Economic Measures (Iran) Regulations, are in response to actions that undermine international peace, security, and stability.
The sanctioned individuals include Ali Abdollahi, a senior official with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and commander of Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters; Lieutenant Colonel Ebrahim Zolfaghari, spokesperson for Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters; Ebrahim Azizi, a parliamentarian and head of the Iranian parliament's national security and foreign policy committee; Shahram Irani, commander of the Islamic Republic of Iran's Navy; and Hamid Hosseini, chair of the board of directors and spokesperson for the Iranian Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Products Exporters Union. These individuals are implicated in military, legal, and communications activities that have threatened this critical international waterway.
Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand stated that freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz is essential for global trade and energy security, and these sanctions send a clear message of Canada's condemnation of Iran's destabilizing activities. The measures are intended to counter Iran's malign influence in the Middle East and elsewhere, aligning with efforts by allies and partners. Canada continues to engage with international partners to support diplomatic efforts to uphold navigation rights in accordance with international law and stands ready to assist in stabilizing the strait when conditions permit. With these latest sanctions, Canada has now sanctioned a total of 232 Iranian individuals and 260 Iranian entities.
