Canada sanctions seven individuals under Iran regulations

OTTAWA, February 14, 2026 — Canada imposed additional sanctions on seven individuals under the Special Economic Measures (Iran) Regulations, adding them to Schedule 1 for participation, directly or indirectly, in Iran-directed activities that undermine international peace, security or stability.

The newly listed individuals are linked to Iranian state bodies and networks that Canadian authorities said were responsible for intimidation, violence and transnational repression targeting Iranian dissidents and human rights defenders. The listings include Naji Ibrahim Sharifi Zindashti, identified as head of the Zindashti network; Reza Hamidiravari, an intelligence officer for Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security; and Mohammed Reza Ansari, described as a senior official with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds Force Unit QF-840.

Canada also listed Ali Esfanjani and Nihat Abdul Kadir Asan, both described as associates of the Zindashti network, along with Muhammed Abd Al-Razek Kanafani, identified as an associate of Ansari, and Mohammed Reza Naserzadeh, described as a facilitator and former staff member at the civil registry department of the Iranian consulate in Istanbul, Türkiye.

The measures impose a dealings prohibition, effectively freezing any assets the listed persons may hold in Canada and barring people in Canada and Canadians abroad from making property available to them. The listed individuals also become inadmissible to Canada under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

With the latest action, Canada said it has sanctioned 478 Iranian individuals and entities across Iran’s security, intelligence and economic apparatus under the Special Economic Measures (Iran) Regulations and the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act. That total includes 222 individuals and 256 entities listed under the Iran regulations.