Canada, allies warn Iran working to ‘kill, kidnap and harass’ people abroad

The joint statement from 14 countries called increasing attempts by Iran to 'kill, kidnap, and harass people' in Europe and North America a 'clear violation' of their sovereignty.

Canada joined the United States and 12 European allies Thursday in condemning what they said is a “growing number of state threats” by Iran’s intelligence services against people abroad, including dissidents, journalists and Jewish citizens of their countries.

The joint statement issued by the U.S. State Department called attempts by Iran to “kill, kidnap, and harass people in Europe and North America” a “clear violation” of those nations’ sovereignty.

“These services are increasingly collaborating with international criminal organizations to target journalists, dissidents, Jewish citizens, and current and former officials in Europe and North America,” the statement said.

“This is unacceptable.”

The countries said they are committed to working together to prevent such attacks and called on Iran to “immediately put an end to such illegal activities in our respective territories.”

Iran has long been accused by the U.S., Canada and European nations of conducting transnational repression operations against Iranian dissidents abroad, as well as critics of the regime in Tehran.

Former Liberal justice minister Irwin Cotler, a vocal critic of the Iranian regime, told Global News last year his security detail was temporarily increased to its “highest level” due to an imminent assassination threat.

Cotler said he was first told Iran was behind an “imminent and lethal threat on my life” in November 2023 — shortly after the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel by Iran-backed Hamas — and has been under RCMP protection ever since.