FDD Applauds Canada for Terminating Ties with Iran

Washington, DC (FDD, September 7, 2012) – The Foundation for Defense of Democracies congratulates the Government of Canada for terminating its ties with Iran. This morning, Ottawa moved to designate Iran as a state sponsor of terrorism, close its embassy in Tehran, and expel all remaining Iranian diplomats.

“Iran’s embassy in Ottawa has been the epicenter of Iranian intelligence and influence operations in Canada and the United States,” said FDD Executive Director Mark Dubowitz, who heads the organization’s Iran sanctions and human rights projects. “Many Iranian dissidents in Canada have faced harassment and intimidation from so-called Iranian ‘diplomats.’ They can now breathe a collective sigh of relief.”

“This should also pave the way for Ottawa to list Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization, and take more forceful action against its activities in Canada,” added Sheryl Saperia, Director of Policy for FDD Canada.

To discuss the Canadian government’s action, the Foundation for Defense of Democracies’ Iran or Canada work, or arrange interviews with Sheryl Saperia, Mark Dubowitz, FDD President Clifford D. May, FDD senior fellows Jonathan Kay, or Daveed Gartenstein-Ross, please contact David Donadio at [email protected].

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The Foundation for Defense of Democracies is a Washington-based non-profit, non-partisan policy institute dedicated exclusively to promoting pluralism, defending democratic values, and fighting the ideologies that drive terrorism. FDD Canada is based in Ottawa where it works on terrorism and national security issues impacting Canada.