Despite decades of concerted efforts by the international community, the Islamic Republic of Iran (Iran) continues to undermine international peace and security through its destabilizing activities across the Middle East region and elsewhere. These include armed attacks on neighbouring states and malign actions to disrupt navigation in and around the Strait of Hormuz.

Following armed attacks by the United States and Israel against Iran on February 28, 2026, Iran retaliated by announcing the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and threatening to strike any vessel crossing the strait, leading to a significant reduction of transit through the waterway.

Iranian authorities, primarily the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), have issued warnings that passage through the strait is prohibited without prior Iranian authorization and have subsequently threatened, seized or targeted multiple commercial vessels operating in or near the strait. As of August 2026, more than 1,500 vessels remain stranded in the Persian Gulf due to fear of military confrontation, and the International Maritime Organization reports that around 6,000 seafarers remain trapped on board their vessels. The Iranian regime has also created a new state regulatory authority to authorize passage through the strait and suggested that fees may be incurred by vessels transiting through it.

Today’s amendments add five individuals to Schedule 1 of the Special Economic Measures (Iran) Regulations for their direct or indirect participation in activities that undermine international peace, security or stability.

With today’s measures, Canada has sanctioned a total of 232 individuals and 260 entities across Iran’s security, intelligence and economic apparatus, pursuant to the Special Economic Measures Act and the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act, with a majority of these measures imposed since 2022.

The newly listed individuals are the following:

• Ali Abdollahi, Commander of Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, and a senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) official
• Lieutenant Colonel Ebrahim Zolfaghari, Spokesperson for Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters
• Ebrahim Azizi, parliamentarian and head of the Iranian parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee
• Shahram Irani, Commander of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s “Artesh” Navy
• Hamid Hosseini, Chair of the Board of Directors of and Spokesperson for the Iranian Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Products Exporters Union

These measures impose a dealings prohibition, effectively freezing any assets that sanctioned persons may hold in Canada and prohibiting persons in Canada and Canadians abroad from making property available to sanctioned persons. Listed individuals are also rendered inadmissible to Canada under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.