Recognize Reza Pahlavi as transitional authority

AI summary

Petitioners ask Canada to recognize the Iranian people's democratic will and engage with Reza Pahlavi as Iran's transitional authority. The government responds that it does not endorse opposition figures and pursues controlled engagement and sanctions.

AI summaries describe petitioners’ requests and claims. Consult the official record for the full text.

Official petition

Petition to the Parliament of Canada and the Government of Canada Whereas: For 47 years, the Islamic Republic regime in Iran has ruled through killing, executions, terror, brutality, war, kidnapping, imprisonment, torture, poverty, fear, corruption, embezzlement, inefficiency, injustice, and lies; and has rooted its power through systemic repression, widespread human rights and political violences; Recently, the Islamic Republic regime and its mercenary forces massacred more than 43,000 peaceful protesters who demanded freedom and recognized Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi as their leader. The regime abducted wounded protesters from hospitals and executed them, while systematically arresting, raping, torturing, and executing protesters and political prisoners; Following the rescue operation carried out by Israel and the United States in support of the Iranian people, the Islamic Republic regime intensified its repression by deploying its mercenary forces; the Afghan Fatemiyoun, the Pakistani Zainabiyoun, and Iraqi Hashd al-Shaabi; cutting off the internet access nationwide, accelerating executions, and further escalating widespread human rights violations and violent suppression of the Iranian people; The Islamic Republic regime lacks legitimacy, does not represent the will of the Iranian people, and is rejected by Iranians both within the country and in the diaspora, while facing sustained international criticism; Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi has long been recognized as a democratic and unifying national leader for Iran's transition period. He has affirmed that he does not seek permanent political power and is committed to enabling the Iranian people to embrace freedom and determine their future. He has also developed the Iran Prosperity Project, a comprehensive plan providing a clear roadmap for political and economic reconstruction and a peaceful transition to democracy in a post-regime Iran; and In recent months, the scale and clarity of public expression by Iranians have been undeniable, peacefully calling for the end of the Islamic Republic regime and unequivocally confirming the leadership of Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi to lead the transition to a democratic, secular Iran. We, the undersigned, Citizens and Residents of Canada, call upon the Parliament of Canada and the Government of Canada to: Recognize the democratic will of the Iranian people and engage with Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi as a legitimate transitional authority.

Government response

Response by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Signed by Parliamentary Secretary Rob Oliphant The Government of Canada thanks the petitioners for raising concerns about the widespread and systemic human rights violations, political violence, and repression committed by the Islamic Republic of Iran. Canada strongly condemns the Iranian regime’s entrenched pattern of excessive and unlawful use of force against Iranians, arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance, torture, severe restrictions on access to information, and other serious human rights violations. In 2012, the Government of Canada suspended diplomatic relations with Iran, formally closing its embassy in Tehran and expelling all Iranian diplomats from Canada in response to Iran’s significant threat to global peace and security in the world. Canada maintains a Controlled Engagement Policy with the Islamic Republic of Iran, limiting bilateral engagement to consular issues, human rights, Iran’s regional role, and Iran’s nuclear program and non-proliferation obligations. In the multilateral fora, Canada opposes where possible the candidacy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Iranian officials, or those connected to the Iranian government, for positions of leadership in international organizations. Canada has consistently and unequivocally condemned violence against protesters and all forms of repression of human rights in Iran, including the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and freedom of association. For the last 23 consecutive years, Canada has led a United Nations General Assembly resolution on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, which condemns the regime’s serious and ongoing violations, urges improvement, and calls on Iranian authorities to cooperate with human rights mechanisms. On December 18, 2025, this resolution was adopted with 78 votes in favour at the General Assembly. Canada will lead on the resolution once again in 2026. In response to the recent actions of the Islamic Republic of Iran regime against its own citizens, the Government of Canada: Led a joint statement condemning the Iranian regime’s crackdown on protests, alongside Australia and the European Union on January 9, 2026; Participated in the Group of Seven statement condemning Iran’s latest wave of brutal suppression and urging Iran to respect its human rights obligations on January 14, 2026; Cosponsored a statement by the Freedom Online Coalition on February 4, 2026, condemning the Iranian authorities’ repression of protesters, internet shutdowns, and other measures aimed at silencing dissent, and calling for respect for human rights both online and offline; Issued multiple statements unequivocally opposing the death penalty, arbitrary arrests and detentions, forced confessions, unfair trials and discrimination against ethnic and religious minorities in Iran. Issued a joint statement on Iranian state threats and HAYI-claimed attacks with 21 other nations on June 10, 2026, condemning Iran’s lethal plotting and other malign actions in Europe, North American and Australia, including attacks targeting Jewish communities, Iranian journalists, and United States interests. The Government of Canada also continues to hold perpetrators of human rights violations and abuses accountable. To this end, Canada is supporting international partners to pursue independent investigations and accountability through multilateral mechanisms, including through the efforts of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran and relevant independent investigative mechanisms, including the United Nations Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Islamic Republic of Iran. At the United Nations Human Rights Council on January 23, 2026, Canada intervened to condemn Iran’s entrenched impunity and violent repression of legitimate and peaceful demonstrations. Canada also engaged constructively in support of the Special Session’s associated resolution, which mandated the United Nations Fact-Finding Mission on Iran to specifically document and preserve evidence of Iran’s violent response to these protests to support future accountability processes. On March 16, 2026, Canada delivered a joint intervention with Australia and New Zealand at the Human Rights Council condemning Iran’s violent response to protests, demanding accountability, and reaffirming the need for sustained international scrutiny. Canada supports the Session’s associated resolution mandating the United Nations Fact-Finding Mission on Iran to specifically document and preserve evidence of Iran’s violent response to these protests to support accountability. In addition to actions taken internationally, Canada continues to leverage domestic legal and policy tools to impose consequences on Iranian individuals and entities responsible for nuclear and weapons proliferation activities, gross and systemic human rights violations, and regional and global destabilizing activities. Since July 22, 2010, Canada has imposed sanctions on nearly 500 Iranian individuals and entities across all levels of Iran’s security, intelligence, and economic apparatus pursuant to theSpecial Economic Measures Actand the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act (Sergei Magnitsky Law). On December 15, 2025, Canada sanctioned four additional senior Iranian officials for their direct roles in implementing repressive policies to violently suppress protests and/or for serious violations of the rights of prisoners, including arbitrarily detained protesters and political opponents. On February 14, 2026, Canada announced new measures on seven individuals linked to Iranian state bodies responsible for intimidation, violence and transnational repression targeting Iranian dissidents and human rights defenders. On March 26, 2026, Canada announced additional sanctions under the (Iran) Regulations (Iran regulations) against five individuals and four entities for their direct or indirect involvement in procurement networks that produce and supply technology supporting the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ weapon production and transfers to proxies, including to Russia for its use in its war of aggression against Ukraine. These measures build on Canada’s broader efforts to maintain pressure on Iran, including: Listing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist entity under the Criminal Codeon June 19, 2024. Canada has also listed the Houthis, Hamas, and Hezbollah as terrorist organizations under theCriminal Code; Designating the Government of Iran as a regime engaged in terrorism and systematic or gross human rights violations under theImmigration and Refugee Protection Act, rendering any senior official who served since June 23, 2003, inadmissible to Canada; Designating Iran as a state supporter of terrorism under the State Immunity Act. The Government of Canada reconfirmed this designation on December 4, 2025. The Government of Canada will continue to stand with the people of Iran in their calls for respect for human rights, accountability for violations, and an end to repression. Canada remains committed to working with international partners to pursue independent investigations and meaningful accountability for mass killings and other violations, and to ensure that those responsible for grave violations are held responsible. Canada does not support any opposition figure in Iran, and it stands with the Iranian people in their long and courageous struggle against the regime’s oppressive rule. The future of Iran must be decided by the Iranian people, and the Government calls on Iranian leadership to listen to the voices of its people.