Why it matters:
Iran’s response highlights escalating tensions with Canada, calling Ottawa’s actions as part of a broader Western pressure campaign. The remarks also tie Canada’s foreign policy to its complicity in global human rights violations, particularly concerning Palestine.
The big picture:
Iran maintains that Western human rights accusations are politically driven rather than genuine efforts to uphold international law. This is while human rights records of Western nations, particularly in relation to Indigenous communities and support for the Israeli genocide in Gaza shows their explicit violation of human rights.
What he’s saying:
Kameli called the sanctions “unlawful, illegitimate, and a violation of Iranian people’s human rights,” making Canada “internationally accountable.”
He said Canada has been a "major violator of human rights" due to its complicity in Israeli genocide against Palestinians.
He urged Canadian officials to address their own human rights issues, including policies affecting Indigenous populations, instead of targeting Iran.
Kameli dismissed allegations of Iranian involvement in Ukraine as “baseless repetition,” reaffirming Iran’s stance of opposing war and advocating diplomatic resolution.
Go deeper:
Iran has long rejected Western-led sanctions as coercive measures aimed at exerting political pressure rather than genuine enforcement of international human rights. Tehran says Canada’s hypocritical actions are part of a broader plan by Western governments that selectively use human rights as a geopolitical tool while ignoring their violations.
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Mojtaba Darabi
