On October 31, 2022, the Government of Canada announced additional sanctions in response to the Iran’s “ongoing gross and systematic human rights violations and continued actions to destabilize peace and security”, adding four individuals and two entities to Schedule 1 of the Special Economic Measures (Iran) Regulations. Contrary to the last few rounds of sanctions against Iran, Canada announced that these sanctions are because of “Iran’s active support of Russian atrocities in Ukraine through the sale of weapons and the provision of Iranian military personnel to train and assist Russian forces on the use of Iranian weapons”.

These sanctions target senior officials and prominent regime supporters whom the Canadian government says they have reasons to believe have “participated in gross and systematic human rights violations either in Iran or in the regime’s malign activities abroad, including by attacking other states”.

We have significant experience in the design and implementation of sanctions-related compliance programs and internal investigations. Where breaches are identified, we work closely with clients in making voluntary disclosures and in engaging with the ensuing investigations conducted by the RCMP and Global Affairs Canada. We also regularly assist clients with the application for delisting process as well as applications for exemption permits.