According to a statement released by the Canadian federal government, the Iranian individuals on the blacklist are Deputy Minister of Sports and Youth Vahid Yaminpour and Member of Guardian Council Mohsen Qomi. Qomi is also a member of Iran’s Press Supervisory Boardو as well as the country’s Supreme Council of Cultural Revolution.
The sanctioned entities are the Persian-language Iran newspaper, the Press Supervisory Board and 15 Khordad Foundation.
Canada has accused the targeted individuals and entities of being “complicit” in the “repression” of protests that broke out after the September 16 death of young woman Mahsa Amini. Those protests soon turned into riots resulting in vandalism and deaths of dozens of security forces across Iran.
Prior to the Monday measures, Canada had imposed sanctions on hundreds of Iranian individuals and entities over allegations of human rights violations during those protests.
Iranian authorities have in the past strongly condemned Canada and other Western states over their sanctions, as well as double-standard approaches towards unrest in Iran.
The Islamic Republic of Iran says its people have the right to peaceful protests, but it will firmly deal with anyone intending to cross its red line which is the security of people.
Iran also says that the riots are a foreign-backed move aimed at destabilizing the country and hinder its progress.
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