Canada sanctions against Iran have expanded again, with Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand announcing new measures targeting seven individuals under the Special Economic Measures (Iran) Regulations. The Canadian government said the latest listings are tied to Iranian state bodies accused of intimidation, violence, and transnational repression aimed at dissidents and human rights defenders.
In its announcement, Global Affairs Canada said Ottawa is responding to what it described as Iran’s use of repression and violence both beyond its borders and against people inside the country. The department said the move is meant to address Iran’s use of “transnational repression, violence and repressive tactics,” and that Canada is acting alongside like-minded partners.
What Canada said the sanctions target
Global Affairs Canada said the newly sanctioned individuals are linked to Iranian state bodies responsible for intimidation, violence, and transnational repression that targets Iranian dissidents and human rights defenders. It said concerns have grown about Iran’s use of proxy agents and criminal networks to silence critics, including alleged harassment, surveillance, and planned acts of violence in Europe and North America. The department said those actions threaten other countries’ sovereignty and undermine international law and global peace and security.
Anand said the sanctions are intended to send “a clear message that Canada will not tolerate the Iranian regime’s attempts to intimidate, harm or silence voices inside or outside Iran.” In the same statement, the government said Canada will continue taking action to counter what it called Iran’s destabilizing activities, uphold international law, and support the Iranian people as they seek freedom, dignity, and respect for human rights.
Who was added to the list
A government backgrounder said the amendments add seven individuals to Schedule 1 of the Special Economic Measures (Iran) Regulations for participation, directly or indirectly, in Iran-directed activities that undermine international peace, security, or stability. The backgrounder identified the newly listed individuals as Naji Ibrahim Sharifi Zindashti, described as head of the “Zindashti” network, and Reza Hamidiravari, described as an intelligence officer for Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security.
The backgrounder also listed Mohammed Reza Ansari, described as a senior official with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds Force Unit QF-840, along with Ali Esfanjani, described as an informant, facilitator, and associate of the “Zindashti” network. It further named Muhammed Abd Al-Razek Kanafani, described as a facilitator and associate of Mohammed Reza Ansari, and Nihat Abdul Kadir Asan, described as a logistical planner, facilitator, and associate of the “Zindashti” network. The seventh person named was Mohammed Reza Naserzadeh, described as a facilitator and former staff member at the civil registry department of the Iranian consulate in Istanbul, Türkiye.
Iran International also reported that Canada imposed new sanctions on seven individuals under the Special Economic Measures (Iran) Regulations, citing Anand’s announcement. It said Canada linked the designations to intimidation, violence, and transnational repression, and reported that the Canadian statement raised concerns about proxy agents and criminal networks used to silence critics.
What the measures do
The backgrounder said Canada’s sanctions impose a “dealings prohibition,” which it described as effectively freezing any assets that sanctioned persons may hold in Canada. It also said the measures prohibit people in Canada and Canadians abroad from making property available to sanctioned persons. In addition, the backgrounder said listed individuals are rendered inadmissible to Canada under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
Global Affairs Canada said that with the latest measures, Canada has now sanctioned 222 Iranian individuals and 256 Iranian entities. The backgrounder provided a broader total, saying that with this announcement Canada has sanctioned 478 Iranian individuals and entities across Iran’s security, intelligence, and economic apparatus under the Special Economic Measures (Iran) Regulations and the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act, with the majority imposed since 2022.
Context cited by Ottawa and other reports
The Global Affairs Canada release said that in October 2022, Canada amended the Iran regulations in response to Iran’s repressive measures against women and girls and its crackdown during the Women, Life, Freedom protests, expanding the focus beyond nuclear activities to allow sanctions for gross and systematic human rights violations. It also said Canada amended the regulations again in March 2025 to allow listings tied to destabilizing activities in the Middle East and globally that undermine international peace, security, or stability.
In a separate report, The Straits Times said Anand “seeks Iran regime change” and reported that Canada sanctioned seven Iranians “over human rights.” The Straits Times also reported that the U.S. military is preparing for potential “sustained, weeks-long operations” against Iran if President Trump orders an attack, and said Reuters reported Trump embraced Iran government change and sent a second aircraft carrier to the region.
