Seven Individuals Added to Iran Sanctions

Summary#

These final regulations amend the Special Economic Measures (Iran) Regulations to add 7 named individuals to the sanctions list. The changes took effect on February 13, 2026 and were published in the Canada Gazette on February 25, 2026.

What it does#

• Adds 7 people to Schedule 1 of the Special Economic Measures (Iran) Regulations. The seven names added are:
  • Naji Ibrahim Sharifi Zindashti
  • Reza Hamidiravari (also known as Reza Hamidi Ravari)
  • Mohammed Reza Ansari
  • Ali Esfanjani
  • Muhammed Abd Al-Razek Kanafani
  • Nihat Abdul Kadir Asan
  • Mohammed Reza Naserzadeh
• Makes it illegal for anyone in Canada, or any Canadian abroad, to deal with the listed people’s property or to provide them with goods or services.
• Renders the listed people inadmissible to Canada under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA).
• Requires Canadian banks and other institutions to identify and block dealings with these individuals by adding them to screening lists.

Who's affected#

• The newly listed people and their networks. The government document says some are linked to the “Zindashti” crime network and include individuals connected to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS).
• Canadian financial institutions and businesses that must screen customers and transactions for sanctioned individuals.
• Federal agencies that enforce sanctions and immigration rules, such as Global Affairs Canada, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and the Canada Border Services Agency.
• Most Canadians are unlikely to be directly affected, since the government says the listed individuals have limited known ties to Canada.

Why it matters#

• If you bank, do business, or travel internationally, banks and government authorities will block or report transactions tied to these listed people. That reduces the ability of those individuals to use Canadian financial services.
• The listing is part of Canada’s broader effort to pressure Iran over activities the government says threaten international peace and security and to respond to transnational repression.
• For the public, it signals that Canada is coordinating with allies on targeted sanctions and increasing screening and enforcement around people linked to violence or state-directed repression.