Canada Lists Iran’s Revolutionary Guard as Terrorist Entity
Canada has taken a strong stance against Iran by designating the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a “terrorist” entity. Ottawa cited the IRGC’s ties to Hamas and Hezbollah, accusing Iran of a ‘complete disregard for human rights’. The Canadian government urged its citizens in Iran to leave and emphasized that the move will aid in countering terrorist financing.
The decision to list the IRGC through the Criminal Code listing regime demonstrates Canada’s commitment to combatting terrorism. Foreign Minister Melanie Joly warned against travel to Iran due to a heightened risk of arbitrary detention. The listing requires Canadian financial institutions to freeze any IRGC assets and prohibits financial dealings with the group.
The United States designated the IRGC as a terrorist group in 2019. The relationship between Iran and Canada has been strained for years, particularly after Iran shot down a plane with Canadian citizens on board in 2020. Canada has accused Iran of failing to conduct a fair investigation into the incident.
With this bold move, Canada aligns itself with efforts to ensure accountability for Iran’s actions and support of terrorism. It also puts a spotlight on Canada’s own commitment to human rights amid its close ties with countries facing allegations of rights abuses.