Anand supports re-imposition of UN sanctions on Iran

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Anita Anand, said at the UN that Canada supports the return of United Nations sanctions against Iran until the country complies with its international nuclear obligations.

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Minister of Foreign Affairs, Anita Anand, said at the UN that Canada supports the return of United Nations sanctions against Iran until the country complies with its international nuclear obligations.

In a Sunday post to X, Anand said Canada is backing the “snapback” mechanism, a provision under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) that allows participating countries to reimpose sanctions if Iran fails to meet its commitments.

“Canada reiterates that Iran must never be allowed to have nuclear weapons,” Anand said. “Today, Canada joins with our partners in supporting the snapback process, which will see the reimposition of UN sanctions against the Iranian regime unless and until Iran fully complies with its responsibilities under the JCPOA.”

The JCPOA, signed in 2015, was a multilateral agreement intended to curb Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.

While the United States withdrew from the agreement in 2018, Canada has continued to voice support for multilateral efforts to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

The federal government has also imposed its own set of sanctions on Iranian officials and entities in response to alleged human rights violations and acts of state-sponsored violence abroad.

Germany, France and the United Kingdom issued a joint statement urging Iran to “refrain from any escalatory actions and to resume compliance with its legally binding safeguards commitments.”

The French Foreign Ministry said the move to trigger the snapback was made due to Iran’s continued failure to meet its obligations under the agreement, particularly with respect to uranium enrichment and lack of cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Separately, Global News reported Monday that the federal government has moved to deport a former senior Iranian regime official, Afshin Pirnoon, who allegedly served at Iran’s embassy in Ottawa prior to its closure in 2012.

Canada currently has no formal diplomatic relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran after cutting off ties in 2012 under former prime minister Stephen Harper.