Second Iranian Faces Possible Deportation Under Canadian Sanctions

Canada has reportedly launched a deportation case against a second former Iranian official found living in the North American country.

Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) said on December 13 that a case has been launched against Majid Iranmanesh, Global News reported.

Iranmanesh has an extensive background in information technology and management, and has held prominent positions in the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Roads and Urban Development and the National Iranian Youth Organization. 

He also managed the information and communication department in the office of a vice president during Hassan Rouhani's presidency (2013-2021).

Iranmanesh is now being processed for possible deportation under sanctions introduced in November 2022 that banned senior officials of the Islamic Republic from Canada, according to the Canadian media outlet.

An IRB spokesperson said that the case is being handled by the agency’s Toronto office. 

Proceedings were scheduled to begin on January 17 next year, with the IRB conducting hearings to decide whether there are sufficient grounds to deport Iranmanesh.

It is said to be the second such case launched under sanctions imposed by Canada over the Islamic Republic’s bloody crackdown on anti-establishment protests that rocked Iran last year. 

The policy effectively barred tens of thousands of Iranian officials and members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) from entering the country.

Last week, Global News revealed that former deputy Interior Minister Seyed Salman Samani had been referred to the IRB for hearings set to begin on January 3.

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has said it was investigating 141 such cases. Thirty-eight have been closed without action.