By Sofiat Adenekan-Abdul
Canada has reimposed sanctions on 11 Iranian companies in the energy and banking sectors over their alleged involvement in Iran’s nuclear programme, ballistic missile development and financing of activities considered harmful to international security.
The Canadian Foreign Ministry announced the decision on Tuesday in a statement issued on the sidelines of the Group of Seven (G7) meeting in Paris.
The companies include the National Iranian Oil Company and two major financial institutions, Bank Mellat and Bank Melli, which were removed from Canada’s sanctions list in 2016.
According to the ministry, the renewed sanctions are intended to disrupt Iranian financial networks suspected of supporting the country’s nuclear programme.
The move marks a reversal of Canada’s 2016 decision to remove the companies from its sanctions list as part of efforts to ease restrictions on Iran.
