Sanctions added against Iranian individuals, media

Summary#

The final rule called Regulations Amending the Special Economic Measures (Iran) Regulations adds a set of Iranian individuals and media entities to Canada’s Iran sanctions list. The changes took effect on October 11, 2022 and add 17 individuals and 3 entities to Schedule 1, which brings an asset freeze and bans most dealings with the listed persons.

What it does#

• Adds these three media or news organizations to Part 1 of Schedule 1:

  • Kayhan
  • Tasnim News Agency
  • Nour News Agency

• Adds these three people to Part 2 of Schedule 1:

  • Hossein SHARIATMADARI (born 1948)
  • Abolfaz SHEKARCHI
  • Amir HATAMI (born 1966)

• Adds these 14 people to Part 2.1 of Schedule 1:

  • Saeed MORTAZAVI (born 1967)
  • Abdolreza Rahmani FAZLI (born 1960)
  • Salar ABNOUSH
  • Qasem REZAEI
  • Manouchehr AMANOLLAHI (born 1965)
  • Kiyumars HEIDARI (born 1964)
  • Gholamreza ZIAEI
  • Ali REZVANI (born 1984)
  • Seyyed Ahmad KHATAMI (born 1960)
  • Leila VASEGHI (born 1972)
  • Peyman JEBELLI (born 1966)
  • Ali LARIJANI (born 1957)
  • Mohammad JAVAD ZARIF (born 1960)
  • Mohammad Bagher ZOLGHADR (born 1954)

• Practical legal effects:

  • The additions mean an asset freeze and a broad ban on dealing with the named persons and entities under the Special Economic Measures (Iran) Regulations and the Special Economic Measures Act.
  • Canadians and people or companies in Canada cannot enter into transactions with, provide services to, or otherwise make property or goods available to these listed persons or entities.
  • The names will be added to the Consolidated Canadian Autonomous Sanctions List so financial institutions and others can check them.

• Enforcement and penalties:

  • Enforcement is carried out by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Canada Border Services Agency.
  • Penalties include a fine of up to $25,000 or imprisonment for up to one year on summary conviction, or imprisonment for up to five years on indictment.

• Timing:

  • The regulations took effect on the day they were registered — October 11, 2022 — and were applied even before publication in the Canada Gazette.

Who's affected#

• The named Iranian officials, associates and the three news organizations are directly affected because their assets can be frozen and dealings with them are prohibited.
• Canadians, including:
  • financial institutions (who must screen and block accounts),
  • businesses and charities (that might otherwise trade with or provide services to those listed),
  • individuals who might interact financially with the listed parties.
• People or companies outside Canada that are Canadian-owned or otherwise fall under Canadian jurisdiction.
• It is unclear whether these specific listings will have any immediate economic impact on ordinary Canadians, because the government says the newly listed persons likely have limited ties to Canada.

Why it matters#

• These listings are Canada’s response to what the government describes as gross and systematic human rights violations by Iranian authorities and Iran’s threats to international peace and security.
• In real terms, the measures make it legally risky for Canadians or Canada-based businesses to deal with the listed people or entities. Banks and other institutions will screen for them and block transactions.
• The move aligns Canada with actions by allies and is meant to increase pressure on Iran’s leaders and institutions believed responsible for human rights abuses.