Canada imposes additional sanctions on Iranians, including former Tehran police chief

TRENTON, Canada

Canada slapped more sanctions on Iranian companies and individuals Friday, including on a former Tehran police chief who was seen in a Toronto gym in 2021.

"Moretza Talaei (is) a Second Brigadier General of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and former commander of Tehran's Law Enforcement Forces," the Canadian government said in a statement.

He was Tehran's police chief in 2003 when Iranian-Canadian photojournalist Zahra Kazemi was beaten to death after taking pictures of Tehran's Evin prison, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reported.

Under the sanctions, Canada can ban those from entering the country and freeze assets they have in Canada.

"We're looking and continuing to look at all ways to ensure that the Iranian regime knows its continued reprehensible behaviour is absolutely unacceptable," Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Friday.

Also sanctioned were: Ali Ghanaatkar Mavardiani, a senior judge, prosecutor and interrogator of the regime who worked at the Evin Prison Court; Hassan Karami, Commander of the Islamic Republic’s Law Enforcement Forces Special Units; Safiran Airport Services, an Iranian cargo and commercial airline that has coordinated Russian military flights between Iran and Russia; Baharestan Kish Company, a subsidiary firm of the IRGC Cooperative Foundation that has entered into agreements to render research services in the technology sector and Javan News Agency, a media outlet under the Basij Cooperative Foundation that disseminates antisemitic messaging and regime’s propaganda.

TRENTON, Canada

Canada slapped more sanctions on Iranian companies and individuals Friday, including on a former Tehran police chief who was seen in a Toronto gym in 2021.

"Moretza Talaei (is) a Second Brigadier General of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and former commander of Tehran's Law Enforcement Forces," the Canadian government said in a statement.

Under the sanctions, Canada can ban those from entering the country and freeze assets they have in Canada.

"We're looking and continuing to look at all ways to ensure that the Iranian regime knows its continued reprehensible behaviour is absolutely unacceptable," Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Friday.