Two Sikh ministers in Canada's new government

Canadian Minister of National Defense Harjit Singh Sajjan

Harjit Singh Sajjan PC OMM MSM CD MP (born September 6, 1970) is a Canadian Liberal politician, the current Minister of National Defence and a Member of Parliament representing the riding of Vancouver South. Sajjan was first elected during the 2015 federal election, defeating Conservative incumbent MP Wai Young, and was sworn into Justin Trudeau's cabinet as defence minister on November 4, 2015. Before politics, Sajjan was a detective investigating gangs for the Vancouver Police Department and a regimental commander in the Canadian Armed Forces decorated for his service in Afghanistan. Sajjan was also the first Sikh-Canadian to command an army regiment. [source: Wikipedia]

Navdeep Singh Bain, Canadian Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development (far left, red turban)

Navdeep Singh Bains, PC MP (born June 16, 1977) is a Canadian politician who is the current Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development. Bains, a Liberal, represents the riding of Mississauga—Malton in the House of Commons after his election in 2015. He previously represented the riding of Mississauga—Brampton South from 2004 to 2011. On November 4, 2015, he was appointed the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development in Justin Trudeau's cabinet. [source: Wikipedia]

Al Qaeda linked to Iran or America, both or neither?

by Mark Pyruz

Recent Canadian allegations of a terror plot by al Qaeda linked to Iran are best put forward by Bill Roggio at the Long War Journal. Bill has well established links with the United States military and does a good job of presenting our military's perspectives on Iranian moves in the Middle Eastern region and beyond. To quote Bill Roggio:

"Iran's ties to al Qaeda are well documented. In recent years, the US government has added several Iran-based al Qaeda leaders and operatives to its list of specially designated global terrorists, and even noted a "secret deal" between the Iranian government and al Qaeda." 

To read the rest of Bill's narrative (which conforms to the official U.S. narrative), click HERE.

It must be pointed out, however, objective observers have a hard time swallowing this narrative. It seems highly unlikely that the Islamic Republic of Iran would link itself with al Qaeda, an entity that is generating so much discord inside Iraq in the form of terror attacks, while at the same time arguably representing the most effective fighting force combating the Assad regime inside Syria, both countries being Iran's closest allies in the region and the world.

Furthermore, the same or similar supposed "well documented ties" between Iran and al Qaeda were also put forward in previous claims of Iran harboring Osoma bin Laden. As is well known now, Osama bin Laden was actually hiding out in Pakistan, America's security client in the GWOT, a virtual stone's throw from a Pakistani military academy. Here's President Ahmadinejad responding previously to charges put forward by George Stephanopoulos that Iran was harboring Osama bin Laden [6:30]:



Amusing when looking back on that moment, right? And the same way Ahmadinejad thought such charges a joke (even going so far as to point out by implication past "well documented" U.S. associations with what would become al Qaeda, as well as the Taliban), Iran's current foreign minister Salehi responded in similar fashion to charges that Iran is allied with al Qaeda in a recent foiled terror plot in Canada.

For their part, the Iranians also maintain a somewhat analog position toward 9/11 and official U.S. complicity in that heinous attack, in the form of putting forward their acceptance of a conspiracy theory alleging a linkage between the Bush administration and al Qaeda (no matter how that may offend our own American sensibilities on the subject, which may or may not be the intended effect). Here's Ahmadinejad making the case that 9/11 was "an inside job" at the UN:



For objective observers such as this writer, when it comes to charges and counter-charges of linkages with al Qaeda by Iran, the United States or even Canada, experience dictates that such claims be critically examined.

Iran Denounces Canada for Freezing Assets

Iranian foreign ministry denounced a Canadian court ruling that froze Iranian government assets in Canada. Foreign ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said Iran held Canada’s government responsible for the court order.

The action by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice was in response to a request filed by the family of an American, Marla Bennett, who was killed in a Jerusalem bombing 11 years ago that was said to be the work of Hamas, the Lebanese group supported by Iran. The Bennett family won a default judgment against Iran for $12.9 million in an American court but was unable to collect.

“The political motivations behind such a move are not hidden to anybody,” said Mehmanparast. (IRNA/NYTimes, 5 November)

Italy to Represent Canada in Tehran

Italy will represent Canada’s interests in Iran. Italian Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi said Canada had made the request after the Sept. 7 closure of the Canadian embassy in Tehran. 

Canada Closes Embassy in Tehran

Expels Iranian Diplomats in Canada

Canada has suspended diplomatic relations with Iran, closing its embassy in Tehran and giving all Iranian diplomats in Canada five days to leave the country. Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird called Iran the biggest threat to global security. Baird cited Iran's nuclear program, its hostility toward Israel and Iranian military assistance to the government of President Bashar al-Assad of Syria. He also said Iran is a state sponsor of terrorism.

"Canada views the government of Iran as the most significant threat to global peace and security in the world today," Baird said. (Reuters, 7 September)

Canada's 10 diplomats in Iran have already left Tehran. There are currently 17 Iranian diplomats in Canada.

"Iranian diplomats in Ottawa have been instructed to leave within five days," Baird said.

EU to Expand Sanctions Against Iran

The European Union joined the US, Britain and Canada in expanding sanctions against Iran. The EU agreed in principle to sanction some 200 Iranian companies, organizations and individuals for the role in development of the country’s nuclear program. The decision needs to be formally approved by EU foreign ministers during their meeting on 1 December. European companies will be banned from doing business with the listed firms and organizations, while individuals will be subject to asset freezes and visa bans.

The EU action comes a day after the US named Iran as an area of “primary money laundering concern,” a step designed to dissuade non-US banks from dealing with the country. Britain and Canada have also banned all its financial institutions from doing business with Iran.

The expanded sanctions do not target Iran’s oil exports, the country’s driving force of economic activities and growth and its main source of hard currency. The banking sanctions, however, are expected to raise the cost of financial transactions for the country substantially and disrupt the normal flow of commerce, at a time when Iran is facing serious economic and political issues internally.

US Expands Sanctions Against Iran Banking Sector

The US government on Monday declared the entire banking sector of Iran, including the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) as a threat to other governments and institutions by designating Iran as an area of “primary money laundering concern.” The designation will require monitoring by US banks to make sure that they and their foreign affiliates are avoiding all contact with Iranian financial institutions. Britain and Canada joined the US in this action.

Pressure has been mounting on Iran since the IAEA revealed in its report last week the “possible military dimensions” to Iran’s nuclear activities, citing evidence indicating that Iran has carried out activities “relevant to the development of a nuclear explosive device.”

“Any and every financial transaction with Iran poses grave risk of supporting those activities, so financial institutions around the world should think hard about the risks of doing business with Iran,” said US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner in a joint press conference with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

The US also imposed sanctions on Iran's petrochemical industry, prohibiting US companies from providing goods, services and technology to support Iran's production of petrochemicals.

The sanctions would not directly target trade in Iranian oil. They could, however, make it increasingly difficult for oil companies and traders to obtain bank financing to trade Iranian crude.