Hussain Hazbavi 
Canada announced a new round of sanctions on Monday targeting four senior Iranian officials over their alleged involvement in Tehran’s violent suppression of protests and political dissent.
In a statement, Canada’s Foreign Ministry identified the officials as Mohsen Karimi, commander in Markazi Province; Ahmad Khadem, commander of the Seyed al-Shohada (Karbala) Operational Base in Iran’s southwest; and Mostafa Mohebbi and Hassan Akharian. The ministry said all four are senior figures accused of “gross and systematic” human rights violations.
Foreign Minister Anita Anand said the officials have been designated under the Special Economic Measures (Iran) Regulations for facilitating and directing repressive policies carried out by the Islamic Republic.
“Iranian security forces, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), continue to use excessive and lethal force to suppress protests, as well as beatings, arbitrary arrests, and torture, including in detention,” the statement said.
Canada formally listed the IRGC as a terrorist organization under its Criminal Code last year, citing its role in human rights abuses and the 2020 downing of Ukraine International Airlines flight PS752.
“Canada will not hesitate to call out Iran’s ongoing disregard for the human rights of its own people and to demand change,” the statement added. It urged Tehran to investigate all alleged violations in line with international law, ensure accountability for victims, and uphold its international human rights obligations.
