Here is an editorial from the July 27 Toronto Star:
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad may complain about “psychological war” being waged against his nation. But the stiff sanctions imposed by Canada and others aim to head off the real thing. Increasingly, Iran risks a military strike unless it persuades the United Nations that it is not trying to get nuclear weapons.
In a show of resolve with the United States and European Union, Prime Minister Stephen Harper has just reinforced the message that “international standards cannot be flouted without consequence.”
Canada has banned dealings with key figures in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard and others involved in the weapons program. As well, Ottawa will ban investment in Iran’s important but underdeveloped oil and gas sector, and the export of goods that could spur nuclear proliferation. There’s a banking ban as well.
Canada’s measures are in line with four sets of UN sanctions, the most recent on June 9.
All this is cutting off Iran from finance, investment and trade.
If there’s any truth to Tehran’s claim that it has no interest in building weapons, now would be a good time for Iran to cooperate with the UN and abandon uranium enrichment and reprocessing – before a crisis erupts or the Iranian people, suffer more.
/cijainfo
@CIJAinfo