Latest news with #ShervinJannesar
The Province
a day ago
- Politics
- The Province
B.C. professor trapped in Iran says Canada has offered 'almost nothing' to help
'As you can most likely hear in my lecture nine recording, it is literally like a war zone with explosions coming around every now and then,' Shervin Jannesar told his students Published Jun 23, 2025 • Last updated 6 hours ago • 3 minute read The damaged headquarters of Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, Iranian state television, in Tehran, Iran, Thursday, June 19, 2025. Photo by Vahid Salemi / AP A B.C. professor who is trapped in Iran says he's been told by officials there's 'almost nothing' the Canadian government can do to help him and his family. 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. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. 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 Simon Fraser University engineering professor Shervin Jannesar says in an email that communications are extremely limited and Canadian authorities don't seem to have a plan to deal with the situation. Jannesar's wife and two infant children had travelled to Iran before Israel launched strikes against the country, and he told his students that when the conflict began he had no choice but to join them. SFU professor Shervin Jannesar is trapped in Iran. Credit Simon Fraser University. Use with permission Photo by Simon Fraser University The United States joined the conflict over the weekend by bombing Iran's nuclear sites and with airspace now closed there's no way for the family to get out. He says in an email to The Canadian Press at 3:45 a.m. local time on Sunday during a brief window of internet access that communications are extremely limited and calls cannot be received from outside the country. Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. 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. Jannesar says he managed to call a Canadian government emergency line but after hours of conversation was initially told to fill in an online form, despite the lack of internet connection. 'Finally one of the agents kindly did it on phone for me. But after so many back and forth talks they told me that there is almost nothing they can do,' Jannesar said. 'Their answer to my question of 'what service (do) you exactly provide in this emergency line?' was something in lines of: 'we are answering your questions! And calls! And if you were not a Canadian we were not answering your questions!' One of Jannesar's students shared a message from him last week describing the professor's situation in an online forum, before the U.S. attack. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. In that message to his class, Jannesar said he was still trying to provide recorded lectures despite the war conditions. 'As you can most likely hear in my lecture nine recording, it is literally like a war zone with explosions coming around every now and then,' he wrote, asking his students for help getting out word about his situation. A man looks at flames rising from an oil storage facility after it was hit by an Israeli strike in Tehran on June 15 Photo by Vahid Salemi / AP A spokesman for Simon Fraser University confirmed that one of its lecturers was stuck in Iran but said it could not provide a recording of the lecture described by Jannesar because access was limited to students. Jannesar says in his email that the Canadian officials he spoke with 'were nice and respectful' and he did not want to be 'harsh' about them. 'But there are actually no managerial plans behind it and (it's) not clear what they offer. It's not even clear in the wording of their emails that what they do they do or can do,' he said. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Jannesar says the internet had been shut down for days before a brief period of access. The university said a second staff member who was in Iran had managed to cross into Turkey. 'We are closely monitoring the situation, and the safety and well-being of our SFU community members remain our top priority,' a spokesman said. He added that 'options for departure from the region are extremely limited' and that the trapped faculty member had been encouraged to contact the university's international health and security provider and Canada's Emergency Watch and Response Centre for consular assistance. Smoke rises from the building of Iran's state-run television after an Israeli strike in Tehran, Iran, Monday, June 16, 2025. (AP Photo) Photo by AP Photo / AP While Iranian airspace is closed, land crossings into Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan are possible options for Canadians attempting to leave Iran, according to Global Affairs Canada. Canadians in Israel, Gaza, the West Bank and Iran are 'advised to remain close to a bomb shelter or a hardened structure away from windows,' a Global Affairs Canada web page reads. 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Toronto Sun
a day ago
- Politics
- Toronto Sun
B.C. professor trapped in Iran says feds offering 'almost nothing' to help
Published Jun 23, 2025 • 3 minute read An Iranian man walks at Haft-e Tir Square in Tehran on June 23, 2025. Israel struck Tehran and Iran fired missiles on June 23, as the war between the longtime foes raged for its 11th day after the United States sent bombers to attack the Islamic republic's nuclear sites. Photo by ATTA KENARE / AFP via Getty Images A British Columbia professor who is trapped in Iran says he's been told by officials there's 'almost nothing' the Canadian government can do to help him and his family. 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 Simon Fraser University engineering Prof. Shervin Jannesar says in an email that communications are extremely limited and Canadian authorities don't seem to have a plan to deal with the situation. Jannesar's wife and two infant children had travelled to Iran before Israel launched strikes against the country, and he told his students that when the conflict began he had no choice but to join them. The United States joined the conflict over the weekend by bombing Iran's nuclear sites and with airspace now closed there's no way for the family to get out. He says in an email written to The Canadian Press at 3:45 a.m. local time on Sunday during a brief window of internet access that communications are extremely limited and calls cannot be received from outside the country. 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. Jannesar says he managed to call a Canadian government emergency line but after hours of conversation was initially told to fill in an online form, despite the lack of internet connection. Read More 'Finally one of the agents kindly did it on the phone for me. But after so many back-and-forth talks they told me that there is almost nothing they can do,' Jannesar said. 'Their answer to my question of 'what service (do) you exactly provide in this emergency line?' was something in lines of: 'We are answering your questions! And calls! And if you were not a Canadian we were not answering your questions!' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. One of Jannesar's students shared a message from him last week describing the professor's situation in an online forum, before the U.S. attack. In that message to his class Jannesar said he was still trying to provide recorded lectures despite the war conditions. 'As you can most likely hear in my lecture nine recording, it is literally like a war zone with explosions coming around every now and then,' he wrote, asking his students for help getting out word about his situation. A spokesman for Simon Fraser University confirmed that one of its lecturers was stuck in Iran but said it could not provide a recording of the lecture described by Jannesar because access was limited to students. Jannesar says in his email that the Canadian officials he spoke with 'were nice and respectful' and he did not want to be 'harsh' about them. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'But there are actually no managerial plans behind it and (it's) not clear what they offer. It's not even clear in the wording of their emails that what they do they do or can do,' he said. RECOMMENDED VIDEO Jannesar says the internet had been shut down for days before a brief period of access. The university said a second staff member who was in Iran had managed to cross into Turkey. 'We are closely monitoring the situation, and the safety and well-being of our SFU community members remain our top priority,' a spokesman said. He added that 'options for departure from the region are extremely limited' and that the trapped faculty member had been encouraged to contact the university's international health and security provider and Canada's Emergency Watch and Response Centre for consular assistance. While Iranian airspace is closed, land crossings into Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan are possible options for Canadians attempting to leave Iran, according to Global Affairs Canada. Canadians in Israel, Gaza, the West Bank and Iran are 'advised to remain close to a bomb shelter or a hardened structure away from windows,' a Global Affairs Canada webpage says. Toronto & GTA World Toronto Maple Leafs Toronto Blue Jays Toronto & GTA
Vancouver Sun
a day ago
- Politics
- Vancouver Sun
B.C. professor trapped in Iran says Canada has offered 'almost nothing' to help
A B.C. professor who is trapped in Iran says he's been told by officials there's 'almost nothing' the Canadian government can do to help him and his family. Simon Fraser University engineering professor Shervin Jannesar says in an email that communications are extremely limited and Canadian authorities don't seem to have a plan to deal with the situation. Jannesar's wife and two infant children had travelled to Iran before Israel launched strikes against the country, and he told his students that when the conflict began he had no choice but to join them. The United States joined the conflict over the weekend by bombing Iran's nuclear sites and with airspace now closed there's no way for the family to get out. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. He says in an email to The Canadian Press at 3:45 a.m. local time on Sunday during a brief window of internet access that communications are extremely limited and calls cannot be received from outside the country. Jannesar says he managed to call a Canadian government emergency line but after hours of conversation was initially told to fill in an online form, despite the lack of internet connection. 'Finally one of the agents kindly did it on phone for me. But after so many back and forth talks they told me that there is almost nothing they can do,' Jannesar said. 'Their answer to my question of 'what service (do) you exactly provide in this emergency line?' was something in lines of: 'we are answering your questions! And calls! And if you were not a Canadian we were not answering your questions!' One of Jannesar's students shared a message from him last week describing the professor's situation in an online forum, before the U.S. attack. In that message to his class, Jannesar said he was still trying to provide recorded lectures despite the war conditions. 'As you can most likely hear in my lecture nine recording, it is literally like a war zone with explosions coming around every now and then,' he wrote, asking his students for help getting out word about his situation. A spokesman for Simon Fraser University confirmed that one of its lecturers was stuck in Iran but said it could not provide a recording of the lecture described by Jannesar because access was limited to students. Jannesar says in his email that the Canadian officials he spoke with 'were nice and respectful' and he did not want to be 'harsh' about them. 'But there are actually no managerial plans behind it and (it's) not clear what they offer. It's not even clear in the wording of their emails that what they do they do or can do,' he said. Jannesar says the internet had been shut down for days before a brief period of access. The university said a second staff member who was in Iran had managed to cross into Turkey. 'We are closely monitoring the situation, and the safety and well-being of our SFU community members remain our top priority,' a spokesman said. He added that 'options for departure from the region are extremely limited' and that the trapped faculty member had been encouraged to contact the university's international health and security provider and Canada's Emergency Watch and Response Centre for consular assistance. While Iranian airspace is closed, land crossings into Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan are possible options for Canadians attempting to leave Iran, according to Global Affairs Canada. Canadians in Israel, Gaza, the West Bank and Iran are 'advised to remain close to a bomb shelter or a hardened structure away from windows,' a Global Affairs Canada web page reads.
Vancouver Sun
a day ago
- Politics
- Vancouver Sun
Canada has offered 'almost nothing' to help, says B.C. professor trapped in Iran
A British Columbia professor who is trapped in Iran says he's been told by officials there's 'almost nothing' the Canadian government can do to help him and his family. Simon Fraser University engineering Prof. Shervin Jannesar says in an email that communications are extremely limited and Canadian authorities don't seem to have a plan to deal with the situation. Jannesar's wife and two infant children had travelled to Iran before Israel launched strikes against the country, and he told his students that when the conflict began he had no choice but to join them. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. The United States joined the conflict over the weekend by bombing Iran's nuclear sites and with airspace now closed there's no way for the family to get out. He says in an email written to The Canadian Press at 3:45 a.m. local time on Sunday during a brief window of internet access that communications are extremely limited and calls cannot be received from outside the country. Jannesar says he managed to call a Canadian government emergency line but after hours of conversation was initially told to fill in an online form, despite the lack of internet connection. 'Finally one of the agents kindly did it on phone for me. But after so many back and forth talks they told me that there is almost nothing they can do,' Jannesar said. 'Their answer to my question of 'what service (do) you exactly provide in this emergency line?' was something in lines of: 'we are answering your questions! And calls! And if you were not a Canadian we were not answering your questions!' One of Jannesar's students shared a message from him last week describing the professor's situation in an online forum, before the U.S. attack. In that message to his class Jannesar said he was still trying to provide recorded lectures despite the war conditions. 'As you can most likely hear in my lecture nine recording, it is literally like a war zone with explosions coming around every now and then,' he wrote, asking his students for help getting out word about his situation. A spokesman for Simon Fraser University confirmed that one of its lecturers was stuck in Iran but said it could not provide a recording of the lecture described by Jannesar because access was limited to students. Jannesar says in his email that the Canadian officials he spoke with 'were nice and respectful' and he did not want to be 'harsh' about them. 'But there are actually no managerial plans behind it and (it's) not clear what they offer. It's not even clear in the wording of their emails that what they do they do or can do,' he said. Jannesar says the internet had been shut down for days before a brief period of access. The university said a second staff member who was in Iran had managed to cross into Turkey. 'We are closely monitoring the situation, and the safety and well-being of our SFU community members remain our top priority,' a spokesman said. He added that 'options for departure from the region are extremely limited' and that the trapped faculty member had been encouraged to contact the university's international health and security provider and Canada's Emergency Watch and Response Centre for consular assistance. While Iranian airspace is closed, land crossings into Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan are possible options for Canadians attempting to leave Iran, according to Global Affairs Canada. Canadians in Israel, Gaza, the West Bank and Iran are 'advised to remain close to a bomb shelter or a hardened structure away from windows,' a Global Affairs Canada web page reads. Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here .
Edmonton Journal
a day ago
- Politics
- Edmonton Journal
Canada has offered 'almost nothing' to help, says B.C. professor trapped in Iran
Article content A British Columbia professor who is trapped in Iran says he's been told by officials there's 'almost nothing' the Canadian government can do to help him and his family. Simon Fraser University engineering Prof. Shervin Jannesar says in an email that communications are extremely limited and Canadian authorities don't seem to have a plan to deal with the situation. Article content Jannesar's wife and two infant children had travelled to Iran before Israel launched strikes against the country, and he told his students that when the conflict began he had no choice but to join them. The United States joined the conflict over the weekend by bombing Iran's nuclear sites and with airspace now closed there's no way for the family to get out. He says in an email written to The Canadian Press at 3:45 a.m. local time on Sunday during a brief window of internet access that communications are extremely limited and calls cannot be received from outside the country. Jannesar says he managed to call a Canadian government emergency line but after hours of conversation was initially told to fill in an online form, despite the lack of internet connection. 'Finally one of the agents kindly did it on phone for me. But after so many back and forth talks they told me that there is almost nothing they can do,' Jannesar said. Article content 'Their answer to my question of 'what service (do) you exactly provide in this emergency line?' was something in lines of: 'we are answering your questions! And calls! And if you were not a Canadian we were not answering your questions!' One of Jannesar's students shared a message from him last week describing the professor's situation in an online forum, before the U.S. attack. In that message to his class Jannesar said he was still trying to provide recorded lectures despite the war conditions. 'As you can most likely hear in my lecture nine recording, it is literally like a war zone with explosions coming around every now and then,' he wrote, asking his students for help getting out word about his situation. A spokesman for Simon Fraser University confirmed that one of its lecturers was stuck in Iran but said it could not provide a recording of the lecture described by Jannesar because access was limited to students. Article content Jannesar says in his email that the Canadian officials he spoke with 'were nice and respectful' and he did not want to be 'harsh' about them. 'But there are actually no managerial plans behind it and (it's) not clear what they offer. It's not even clear in the wording of their emails that what they do they do or can do,' he said. Jannesar says the internet had been shut down for days before a brief period of access. The university said a second staff member who was in Iran had managed to cross into Turkey. 'We are closely monitoring the situation, and the safety and well-being of our SFU community members remain our top priority,' a spokesman said. He added that 'options for departure from the region are extremely limited' and that the trapped faculty member had been encouraged to contact the university's international health and security provider and Canada's Emergency Watch and Response Centre for consular assistance. Latest National Stories
