Iranian drone procurement network the latest sanctioned by Canada under Iran regulations
Canada has placed new sanctions on seven people it says are tied to Iran’s security and criminal networks and to threats against people in other countries.
OTTAWA, March 26, 2026 — Canada announced new sanctions on seven people under its Iran sanctions rules.
The Canadian government said these people are linked to Iran’s security agencies, proxy groups and criminal networks. Canada said they took part in threats, violence and pressure against dissidents, activists and human rights defenders.
The seven people named are Naji Ibrahim Sharifi Zindashti, Reza Hamidiravari, Mohammed Reza Ansari, Ali Esfanjani, Muhammed Abd Al-Razek Kanafani, Nihat Abdul Kadir Asan and Mohammed Reza Naserzadeh.
Canada said these people helped with activities ordered by Iran that hurt peace, security and stability.
The sanctions mean any assets they have in Canada can be frozen. People in Canada, and Canadians abroad, are also banned from doing business with them or giving them property or money.
Canada also said the seven people are now banned from entering the country under immigration law.
The government said the new action is part of a wider effort to respond to Iran’s repression at home and its actions abroad. Canada said Iranian agents and linked criminal groups have been used to watch, threaten and target critics in Europe and North America.
With these new measures, Canada said it has now sanctioned 478 Iranian individuals and entities. That includes 222 individuals and 256 entities under Canada’s Iran sanctions rules.
Canada widened these rules in October 2022 to target serious human rights abuses. It expanded them again in March 2025 to cover actions that threaten stability in the Middle East and around the world.
Regulatory Actions
Structured data extracted from official sources and validated by sanctions experts