February 21, 2012 | Quote
Enacting Sanctions on Iran Isn’t Enough
Sheryl Saperia, the Canadian policy director of the Washington, D.C.-based Foundation for Defense of Democracies, says Canada should be making a serious effort, now more than ever, to ensure that sanctions work. “Canada must be vigilant in establishing and enforcing prudent limits regarding foreign investments and all business dealings in this country,” Saperia said.
If a “loophole” is allowing subsidiaries of foreign companies engaged with Tehran and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to carry on business as usual in Canada, “that should be closed quickly,” Saperia said. Iran's secrecy-shrouded energy sector is riddled with enterprises long regarded as wholly owned properties of the Revolutionary Guards.
Says Saperia: “All companies – and their related entities – should be put to a fundamental choice: they can do business in Canada or in Iran but not both.”