Latest news with #Iranian-Canadians
Winnipeg Free Press
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Iranians in Canada watch and worry after U.S. strikes on nuclear sites
MONTREAL – Iranian-Canadians say they fear an escalation of violence in the Middle East after the United States carried out strikes against three Iranian nuclear sites. Nimâ Machouf, a member of a Montreal Iranian women's association, says family members in Iran are living 'from one bomb to another.' The epidemiologist and former NDP candidate worries the strikes will only lead to more violence and hurt the people who are fighting to free themselves from Iran's repressive regime. Kaveh Shahrooz, a lawyer and a senior fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, says many Iranians are worried about the impact the U.S. decision to join Israel's war on Iran could have on citizens. But he says some opponents of the regime are celebrating the U.S. strike, happy to see Iran's nuclear program 'effectively dismantled.' The interim president of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs called eliminating Iran's nuclear program an 'essential step' toward a safer Middle East, and urged the Canadian government to stand strong against Iran. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 22, 2025.
Toronto Sun
4 days ago
- Politics
- Toronto Sun
WARMINGTON: 'Hundreds' of the Ayatollah's people already in Canada -- and more hoping to sneak in
While Iranian-Canadians cheer for fundamentalist regime to fall, they and Jewish organizations fear IRGC thugs seeking refuge in Canada Get the latest from Joe Warmington straight to your inbox A handout picture provided by the Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's office shows him waving during a ceremony on the occasion of 36rd death anniversary of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, in Tehran on June 4, 2025. Photo by / AFP via Getty Images Sometimes you see a headline that jumps out and makes your head spin. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account 'Iranian Regime Officials Seek Refuge in Canada,' said the banner on Israel's i24News station. What? So if World War III breaks out or the fundamentalist Iranian theocracy falls, could Canada end up being the landing spot for members of the brutal Iranian dictatorship? 'Our organization, the Iranian Justice Collective, and many other Iranian-Canadians are very worried about regime officials, particularly senior IRGC figures, coming to Canada in the coming days and weeks,' Toronto lawyer and Iranian-Canadian Kaveh Shahrooz told the Toronto Sun . 'We already suspect that many of them have parked significant amounts of stolen money in Canada. Many have their families here.' Wow. This is a major development. Prime Minister Mark Carney's office has yet to respond to questions on this. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. In talking about how Canada has let down Jews since the Oct. 7, 2023 massacre, retired Israel Defence Forces Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus on i24News warned of a potential onslaught of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Islamic Republic of Iran government officials or clergy fleeing the failing state before or as the Ayatollah falls and settling in Canada. 'They are allowing Palestinians to control the streets, terrorist sympathizers, they are allowing Hamas and the Muslim brotherhood to collect money in Canada,' Conricus said. 'I am not very surprised the Iranian Regime officials are finding it nice because Canada is a great and convenient place to live.' Iranian protesters hold up Iranian and Palestinian flags in an anti-Israeli gathering in Tehran, Iran, Friday, June 13, 2025. Photo by Vahid Salemi / AP He added 'if there is no law enforcement and actual protection of the country, then by all means, why not, it makes sense — Palestinian terrorists, other enemies of the west and now Iranians as well.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. How many are already here? 'Hundreds,' said Shahrooz, who came to Canada at 10 years old with his exiled family at the hands of the Islamic revolutionaries and now represents victims of that brutal regime including Iranian-Canadian families on the Jan. 8, 2020 Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 that was shot from the sky near Tehran's airport. If the Ayatollahs/Mullahs are driven out of government in Iran, it is highly probable that regime officials will seek to regroup in a foreign country to try and retake power. Canada is now the most likely country for that to happen, given that Canada is now the home ground for… — Tom Quiggin (@TomTSEC) June 18, 2025 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Shahrooz said people working under the Ayatollah's leadership buy homes and set up lives for the families here for their futures but to also have a soft place to land, should the Iranian dictatorship fall. 'These regime officials may even have permanent residency or Canadian citizenship,' Shahrooz said. 'As the Islamic regime falls, many such officials may escape to Canada and live lives of leisure, with no accountability for their heinous crimes.' Needless to say, B'nai Brith Canada said this needs to be taken seriously. 'Amid reports that senior members of the regime may be fleeing Iran, it is incumbent that Canadian officials ensure that our existing sanctions and designations are not usurped and that Canada is not utilized as a safe haven for those who have demonstrated themselves to be enemies of our democracy,' said B'nai Brith Canada director of research and advocacy Richard Robertson. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. He added 'the Islamic Republic of Iran is a designated state sponsor of terror. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corp is a listed terror entity. Senior members of the Iranian Regime and the IRGC identified under the Special Economic Measures Act are inadmissible to Canada' and 'those wishing to enter Canada must be vetted under the government's expanded Iran Regulations criteria.' Here is Fred Hahn, the leader of the Canadian Union of Public Employees ON who is leading a "Hands Off Iran" protest. He is, of course, wearing his Pride are three gay guys in Iran who are hung in public because they are - well - gay. If Fred Hahn was to lead a… — Tom Quiggin (@TomTSEC) June 18, 2025 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs added 'CIJA is aware of reports circulating about Iranian officials potentially fleeing to Canada since the start of the current conflict. While we have not yet seen any substantiated evidence to support these claims, we remain deeply concerned given Canada's track record of allowing individuals linked to the Iranian regime to enter the country. We are in regular contact with the Government of Canada, urging the highest level of scrutiny in reviewing any individuals seeking entry who may have ties to the Iranian regime.' While the prime minister has not yet commented, exactly one year ago, June 19, 2024, then Public Safety minister Dominic LeBlanc announced Canada 'has listed the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist entity under the Criminal Code' since 'the Iranian regime has consistently displayed a complete disregard for human rights, both inside and outside Iran, as well as a willingness to destabilize the international rules-based order' and 'our government' will 'take action against those seeking to disrupt our way of life, here in Canada and around the world.' But the question is, how many IRGC agents are here now and how many could land here soon? Read More NHL Editorial Cartoons Canada Soccer Columnists
4 days ago
- Politics
Toronto's Iranian diaspora watches with worry, mixed feelings as Israel-Iran conflict mounts
Début du widget Widget. Passer le widget ? Fin du widget Widget. Retourner au début du widget ? As the conflict between Israel and Iran intensifies, members of the Iranian-Canadian community in Toronto say they are feeling mixed emotions, many worried about loved ones back home and some hopeful for what they say is much-needed change in Iran. Israel first launched strikes on Iran's capital Tehran in the early hours of Friday in what it said was an attack targeting Iran's nuclear and energy sites to prevent the country from building a nuclear weapon. In retaliation, Iran launched hundreds of drones and missiles against Israel, with explosions rocking the cities of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. On Tuesday, according to The Associated Press, residents of Tehran, Iran's capital, were seen leaving the city. Witnesses said strong explosions rocked buildings in western and eastern parts of Tehran on Tuesday evening. On the roads out of Tehran to the west, traffic stood bumper to bumper, and long lines also could be seen at gas stations. Sam Fayaz, owner of Khorak Supermarket in North York, said he has seen a noticeable shift in the mood of his customers as tensions back home have escalated. Toronto has one of the largest diasporas of Iranians outside of Iran. They have a lot of family back home that they're concerned about. Everyone's just praying for the best and praying for peace, Fayaz said. Fayaz said his parents fled the Iran-Iraq war in the late 1980s. He said the situation was frightening then and it is frightening now. I actually lived through that personally myself as I was four at the time when the war was happening. And those memories, they get instilled into your brain, Fayaz said. Enlarge image (new window) Smoke rises from the building of Iran's state-run television after an Israeli strike in Tehran on Monday, June 16, 2025. Photo: Associated Press Fayaz said nobody supports war but the Islamic Republic of Iran needs to go because it is so oppressive. Nobody is suffering more than the innocent civilians, he said. On Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump urged the immediate evacuation of Tehran. On Tuesday, he urged Iran to surrender unconditionally. 'We are worried, to be honest,' resident says Effie Mousavi, a customer at Khorak Supermarket, said the news is distressing and nobody knows what will happen. As an immigrant, she said she feels conflicted because the war may mean the government will change but it also means that people are in danger. I'm not feeling good. I'm always following the news and it's not good. We are just waiting... This is war, she said. We are worried, to be honest. Mousavi said a friend who went to visit Iran has had to flee to Turkey. It's a lot of stress, she said. Enlarge image (new window) Mehrdad Ariannejad, CEO of Tirgan Organization, a charity promoting cross-cultural dialogue between Iranian-Canadians and the wider community, was interviewed by CBC Toronto at Arta Gallery in the Distillery District. He said he is thinking about both sides in the conflict. Photo: CBC / Martin Trainor Mehrdad Ariannejad, CEO of Tirgan Organization, a charity promoting cross-cultural dialogue between Iranian-Canadians and the broader community, said he is thinking about Israel and Iran and has mixed feelings. Tirgan Organization holds an Iranian festival every two years. I'm very happy that the high-ranking generals and officials in Iran are killed by the Israeli military. They have killed many Iranians in uprisings. And on the other hand, I'm sad for civilian casualties both in Israel and Iran, Ariannejad said. There are approximately 3,500 Canadians in Iran and another 6,700 in Israel, according to Global Affairs Canada. The count is based on the voluntary registration of around 80,000 Canadians in the Middle East and doesn't fully reflect how many of them may need help getting out, the department said in a statement. Canadians warned not to travel to Iran, Israel Global Affairs Canada added that it hasn't received any reports of Canadian injuries or deaths in the conflict. The department is warning against all travel to Iran, Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip and advising Canadians in the Middle East to monitor the news and follow the instructions of local authorities. Military strikes pose serious risks across the region, the department said, adding that the situation may result in disruptions to transportation and air travel, as well as border closures. With files from The Canadian Press and The Associated Press
