Iran sanctions: 5 entities and 5 individuals added

Summary#

The federal government added 5 entities and 5 individuals to the list of targeted sanctions under the Special Economic Measures (Iran) Regulations. The amendments took effect on registration (September 22, 2026) and were published in the Canada Gazette on October 7, 2026.

What it does#

• Adds these entities to Schedule 1:
  • SATRA (Iranian Audiovisual Media Regulatory Authority)
  • The Working Group for Determining Instances of Criminal Content (WGDICC)
  • Douran Group
  • Yaftar Pazhohan Pishtaz Rayanesh Limited Company
  • Seraj Cyberspace Organization
• Adds these individuals to Schedule 1:
  • Davoud Moazami Goudarzi
  • Eskandar Momeni (born January 15, 1962)
  • Rasoul Jalili (born August 19, 1961)
  • Mohsen Fathizadeh
  • Ruhollah Momen Nasab (born January 21, 1981)
• As a result of being listed:
  • Any person in Canada, and any Canadian anywhere, is prohibited from dealing in the listed persons’ property, entering into transactions with them, providing them services, transferring property to them, or otherwise making goods available to them.
  • The listed individuals are rendered inadmissible to Canada under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
  • The listed names will be added to Canada’s consolidated sanctions lists to help banks and businesses screen customers.
• The regulations applied from the registration date, before the Canada Gazette publication.
• Penalties for knowingly breaking the rules include a fine of up to $25,000 or imprisonment up to 1 year on summary conviction, or imprisonment up to 5 years on indictment.

Who's affected#

• Canadians and people in Canada who might do business with the listed persons.
• Canadian banks and other financial institutions that must screen and block dealings with these names.
• Businesses and service providers that could otherwise provide goods, funds or services to the listed people or entities.
• The named individuals and entities, who face restrictions and inadmissibility to Canada.
• Government agencies involved in enforcement and border control, including Global Affairs Canada, Canada Border Services Agency, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

Why it matters#

• These are targeted sanctions aimed at people and organizations that the government says took part in human-rights abuses and digital repression in Iran.
• In practice, the measures cut off listed persons from using Canadian financial and commercial services and make it illegal for Canadians to deal with them.
• The government says the move is part of coordinated international pressure and expects minimal direct impact on ordinary Canadian businesses because no significant trade links with the newly listed names were identified.
• If you work in banking, compliance, international trade, or immigration, this change affects screening and who you can legally do business with.