Canada lifts Iran sanctions

“We’ll keep sanctions to be sure the proliferation or nuclear will not happen in Iran, the same for ballistic missiles”, Dion said, according to CBC News.

“Canada continues to have serious concerns regarding Iran’s nuclear ambitions and will continue to maintain tight restrictions on exports to Iran of goods, services and technologies considered sensitive from a security perspective”, including goods that could help Iran’s nuclear or ballistic missile capabilities, the statement said.

This followed the lifting of United Nations economic sanctions on Tehran after the International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed on January 16, 2016 that Iran had delivered on its commitments to limit nuclear activities.

Canada’s exports to Iran peaked at Can$772 million (US$556 million) in 1997 and declined to Can$67 million (US$48 million) in 2014, comprising mostly food products exempt from sanctions. “Canada will not lower the standard to which we hold Iran accountable, particularly on its human rights record and its aggressiveness toward the state of Israel”.

Dion added that Canada is open to the possibility of restoring diplomatic contacts with Iran, which have been non-existent since the Canadian embassy in Tehran was shuttered in 2012.

All applications for export permits will be considered on a case-by-case basis, read part of the statement.

He had said last week that if Airbus is allowed to sell to Iran, then Canadian aircraft maker Bombardier Inc should be allowed to export there as well.

But in October 2015, just months after settling on the terms of the agreement, Iran tested such a weapon.

Dion says Iran remains a country of concern, but characterizes the Conservative decision to cut off communications entirely as wrong-headed.

He said the government remains cautious.