Backgrounder: Canada imposes additional sanctions against Iran Backgrounder Despite decades of concerted efforts by the international community, Iran remains a destabilizing force across the Middle East and the world through malign activities by its own military, as well as its support of a network of aligned non-state militias and terrorist armed groups, often referred to as the “Axis of Resistance.” Iran supports Axis of Resistance members through funding, arms provision, technology transfers, training and ideological and political support. The current conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran, which began on February 28, 2026, has escalated across the Middle East because of the Iranian Regime’s attacks on neighbouring states, which have far-reaching implications for regional and international stability. Iran is also contributing to growing economic impacts and disruptions to global trade, shipping and energy markets while increasing humanitarian needs and displacement. Today’s amendments add five individuals and four entities to Schedule 1 of the Special Economic Measures (Iran) Regulations for their direct or indirect participation in Iran-directed activities that undermine international peace, security or stability. With today’s announcement, Canada has sanctioned a total of 487 Iranian individuals and entities across Iran’s security, intelligence and economic apparatus, pursuant to the Special Economic Measures Act and the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act, with the majority of these measures imposed since 2022. This total includes 227 individuals and 260 entities listed under the Special Economic Measures (Iran) Regulations, as well as the Special Economic Measures (Hamas Terrorist Attacks) Regulations, the Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations and the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act. These measures impose a dealings prohibition, effectively freezing any assets that sanctioned persons may hold in Canada and prohibiting persons in Canada and Canadians abroad from making property available to sanctioned persons. Listed individuals are also rendered inadmissible to Canada under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. Individuals The newly listed individuals are the following: - Ehsan Imaninejad, Chief Executive Officer of Saad Sazah Faraz Sharif - Hadi Zahourian, Chief Executive Officer of Chekad Sanat Faraz Asia - Mohammad Shahab Khanian, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Chekad Sanat Faraz Asia - Ehsan Rahat Varnosfadrani, Chief Scientist and former chief executive officer of Chekad Sanat Faraz Asia - Rahmatollah Heidari, Managing Director and member of the board of directors of Baharestan Kish Company Entities The newly listed entities are the following: - Chekad Sanat Faraz Asia (also known as Shakad Sanat Asmari), an entity involved in the development and manufacturing of components for Iran’s Shahed series drones - Saad Sazah Faraz Sharif (also known as Sadid Sazeh Parvaz Sharif and Daria Fanavar Borhan Sharif), an entity involved in the development and manufacturing of components for Iran’s Shahed series drones - Kimia Part Sivan Company (also known as KIPAS), an entity and drone production arm of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force (IRGC-QF) - Sarmad Electronic Sepahan Company, an entity involved in the development and manufacturing of electronic and electromechanical components for avionics and drones
Backgrounder: Canada imposes additional sanctions against Iran Backgrounder Despite decades of concerted efforts by the international community, Iran remains a destabilizing force across the Middle East and the world through malign activities by its own military, as well as its s…
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International mediators have proposed a 10-day ceasefire between the United States and Iran, according to a senior Iranian official cited in reports. The measure is described as intended to reduce hostilities and allow renewed talks on a prior interim agreement.
Both sides are assessing next steps in the current regional security situation.
Reports indicate that a US-Iran ceasefire has broken down amid renewed fighting, with the potential impact of mediation efforts by Pakistan, Qatar, and Oman remaining unclear. Earlier diplomatic steps included a June memorandum of understanding between the parties for further negotiations and talks hosted in Geneva in February.
The summary also references Europe’s historical role in diplomacy, including the 1814-15 Congress of Vienna.
Donald Trump stated in a Fox News interview that his representatives had spoken with Iranian officials an hour earlier and that those officials wanted to make a deal to end the conflict, though he noted they had broken prior agreements and expressed uncertainty about whether one would be reached.
He added that people do not want to die and that Iran would need to proceed carefully to avoid further losses. The remarks come amid an ongoing US-Iran conflict that has involved casualties and shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, with some social media users criticizing the repetition of similar statements.
Why the Iran-US ceasefire is falling apart Iran and the US have resumed fighting because they don’t see each other as ‘reliable negotiating partners’, says analyst Ali Vaez. Neither Iran nor the United States seems able to deliver a “knockout blow at an acceptable price” to the other side, and both know “they have no choice other than engaging in diplomacy”, but they’re not ready to make uncomfortable concessions, argues Ali Vaez, director of the Iran Project at International Crisis Group.
Vaez tells host Steve Clemons that Tehran and Washington are trying to “enforce their own interpretation” of the ceasefire agreement they signed last month. President Trump has become “frustrated” with diplomacy because he’s not seeing “the kind of quick results that he likes to see”, Vaez says.