Russian Diplomat Blasts Canada for Sanctioning Independent Media
Jose Nino
|
Mikhail Ulyanov, the Permanent Representative to International Organizations, criticized Canada for imposing sanctions on a vast array of Iranian institutions and individuals. One of the most notable targets was the Iran-based, English-language Press TV.
Ulyanov described the Canadian government’s actions as
“rights violations,” and views it as a broader move towards Western-style authoritarianism.
“This is a sign of weakness. Moreover, this is yet another sign of the authoritarian trends in the West,” Ulyanov proclaimed in a Twitter post that he published October 5.
He continued, “No space for competition of different views. Just dictate and brainwashing.”
The Canadian government revealed its new set of sanctions against Iran in a statement published on October 3.
These freshly imposed sanctions are tacked on to Canada’s current sanctions against Iran. The sanctions targeted 25 individuals and 9 entities, which includes functionaries in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and the Ministry of Intelligence.
Press TV, an Iranian media outlet accused of spreading disinformation by the Collective West, was also another prominent target. It has provided coverage on the latest unrest engulfing Iran in the wake of the death of an Iranian woman, Mahsa Amini.
According to a Press TV report, other sanctioned institutions included the “Basij Force, which played a key role in terminating the riots, the Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Baqeri; the chief commander of the IRGC, Hossein Salami; secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Ali Shamkhani; Iran’s Majlis speaker, Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf; Iran’s Interior Minister Ahamd Vahidi; and commander of the IRGC’s Quds Force, Esmail Qa’ani.”
The nature of these protests-turned riots is disputed. Many believe that were legitimate grievances that were co-opted by external actors such as the Collective West, Israel, and Saudi Arabia.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei severely criticized the unrest and declared that these riots were orchestrated by the US and Israel.
“I state it clearly that these developments were planned by America, the Zionist regime and their acolytes. Their main problem is with a strong and independent Iran and the country’s progress. The Iranian nation proved to be fairly strong during recent events and will bravely come onto the scene wherever necessary in the future,” Khamenei declared on October 9, 2022.
What’s taking place in Iran is none of the US and broader West’s concern. For once, can Western leaders mind their own business and start addressing the grievances of their people instead? Mass migration and a flawed economic system pose far greater threats to the West than the current Iranian regime.
Share: