12 Iranian Officials Added to Sanctions

Summary#

These final regulations (SOR/2023-34) amend the Special Economic Measures (Iran) Regulations to add 12 people to Canada’s Iran sanctions list. The measures came into force on registration (February 23, 2023) and were published in the Canada Gazette on March 15, 2023. They bar Canadians and people in Canada from doing business with the newly listed individuals.

What it does#

• Adds 12 individuals (new entries numbered 65 to 76) to the list in the Special Economic Measures (Iran) Regulations.
  • The people named are described as senior officials in Iran’s security and law‑enforcement apparatus, including senior members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Law Enforcement Forces, one warden of Evin prison, and the head of the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution.
• Prohibits any person in Canada, and Canadians abroad, from dealing in the property of, entering into transactions with, providing services to, or otherwise making goods available to the listed persons.
• The new names will be added to the Consolidated Canadian Autonomous Sanctions List used by banks and regulators.
• Enforcement and compliance:
  • The Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Canada Border Services Agency have roles in enforcement.
  • Financial institutions must update monitoring systems to screen for the newly listed people.
  • Penalties for knowingly breaking the rules include fines up to $25,000, or imprisonment up to 1 year on summary conviction, or up to 5 years on indictment.
• These regulations apply from the date they were registered and operate before their Gazette publication (they were registered on February 23, 2023).

Who's affected#

• Canadians and Canadian businesses that might interact with the named individuals. This includes banks and other financial institutions that must block prohibited transactions and freeze any assets in Canada.
• The 12 named individuals and any entities or people who provide them with funds, goods or services.
• Most ordinary Canadians and small businesses are unlikely to be directly affected because the listed people are thought to have limited connections to Canada. The government says compliance costs for banks are expected to be minor.

Why it matters#

• These are targeted sanctions aimed at people Canada says were involved in serious human rights abuses during recent crackdowns in Iran. The measures are meant to increase pressure on Iran’s authorities and signal Canada’s stance on human rights.
• For the public, the practical effects are mainly: blocked accounts or transactions if assets exist in Canada, and tighter screening by banks and service providers.
• The move brings Canada into closer alignment with similar actions by allies such as the EU, the United Kingdom, and the United States.