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Canada imposes new sanctions on Iran over what it calls human rights violations

Picture taken during the foreign-backed riots that have taken place across Iran since the death last month of a young Iranian woman, identified as Mahsa Amini.

Canada has imposed a fresh raft of sanctions against Iranian individuals and various bodies over what it calls human rights violations in the Islamic Republic. 

Ottawa declared the measures on Thursday, saying they affected 17 people, including former foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and ex-defense chief Brigadier General Amir Hatami as well as three entities.

Riots broke out in Iran last month after a young Iranian woman, identified as Mahsa Amini died. The 22-year-old fainted at a police station and was later pronounced dead at a hospital.

The rioters have been going on rampage across the country, attacking security officers, resorting to vandalism against public property, and desecrating religious sanctities.

Late last month, the Iranian Intelligence Ministry announced that the rioters have been backed by Western regimes and their mercenary media, which disseminated misinformation and distorted the sequence of events that led to Amini’s death even before the official investigation into the incident concludes.

Experts note that the Western governments and their media outlets have been terming the Iranian security forces' determined attempt to stem the riots as human rights violations in order to try to shore up the riots and glorify unrest.

Announcing the new sanctions, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly likewise accused Tehran of pursuing an "agenda of violence, fear, and propaganda."

She alleged that the rioters "are courageously demanding a future where their human rights will be fully respected."

This marks the second time the Canadian government levies sanctions against the Islamic Republic since the onset of the riots.

Earlier in the month, Ottawa imposed sanctions on a wide range of Iranian institutions and persons, including the 24-hour English-language Press TV, under the similar pretext of "rights violations."

The measures listed 25 individuals and nine entities, including officials in Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) and the Ministry of Intelligence.


Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk

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