Trudeau Says Canada Is in No Rush to Lift Sanctions on Iran

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated that despite the interest of Canadian companies in accessing the Iranian market and requests for the quick lifting of sanctions against the Islamic Republic, his government will make decisions cautiously and without haste. According to Reuters, Trudeau made these remarks on Thursday, February 3, after visiting the oil-rich Alberta region, noting that while the Vienna nuclear agreement has helped reduce the nuclear capabilities of the Islamic Republic, there are still serious concerns regarding 'state-sponsored terrorism and human rights violations' in Iran. He emphasized that he understands the desires and requests of Canadian companies to enter the Iranian market, but his government will decide 'with great caution and consideration, in cooperation and coordination with its allies, as the people of Canada expect the same from their government.' Canadian Foreign Minister Stéphane Dion mentioned earlier in February in Parliament that the government is reviewing the lifting of sanctions on Iran but did not specify a timeline. He also stressed that Canada still has reservations about establishing relations with Iran. Last week, Canada confirmed for the first time that it intends to lift sanctions on Iran so that Canadian companies, such as Bombardier, can sell aircraft to Iran. Following the implementation of the nuclear agreement (JCPOA) and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani's recent visit to France, Iran announced that it had signed an agreement to purchase 118 Airbus aircraft. Canada severed diplomatic relations with Iran four years ago during the conservative government of Stephen Harper, which cited Iran's nuclear activities, 'racist' rhetoric, hostility toward Israel, support for Bashar al-Assad's government in Syria, and the lack of 'security for foreign diplomats in Tehran' as reasons, labeling the Islamic Republic as 'the greatest threat' to global peace and security. Relations between Iran and Canada had already soured due to the murder of Zahra Kazemi, an Iranian-Canadian photojournalist, in Evin prison in Tehran in 2003. Canada has also consistently been a producer of resolutions at the UN General Assembly condemning human rights violations in Iran. However, with the nuclear agreement between Iran and the P5+1 and the rise of Justin Trudeau's government following the Liberal Party's victory in last year's parliamentary elections, his government announced its readiness to re-establish diplomatic relations with the Islamic Republic.