President Donald Trump recently raised concerns regarding a potential Iranian “sleeper cell” in North America, as Canadian opposition leaders accused the government of letting operatives connected to Tehran stay in the country. In a speech on Wednesday, Trump indicated that U.S. officials are keeping tabs on Iranian networks that seem to have infiltrated the U.S. over the last few years.
During his remarks, Trump responded to a question from a Fox News reporter, suggesting that many individuals have entered the U.S. due to what he described as Biden’s poor border policies. “We know where most of them are,” he stated, indicating that the authorities are monitoring the situation closely.
This statement comes amid escalating worries among Western security agencies regarding Iranian intelligence operations that target dissidents abroad.
In Canada, Conservative Party leaders are voicing their dissatisfaction with the government’s lack of action against individuals allegedly affiliated with the Iranian regime, despite acknowledging their presence. In a recent statement, Conservative Party Deputy Leader Melissa Lanzmann, along with Shadow Immigration Minister Michel Rempel and Quebec Deputy MP Pierre Paulheuss, urged the Liberal government to formulate and implement a plan quickly to combat the Iranian regime’s influence in Canada.
“The Liberals have been aware for years that there are numerous Iranian regime officials in Canada, and 239 of them have had their visas revoked,” the lawmakers stated.
They mentioned that only one individual has been deported thus far, citing legal obstacles, such as asylum claims and privacy issues, as significant concerns that complicate enforcement.
Mariam Shariatmadari, a prominent figure from the Girls of Revolution Street protests against Iran’s hijab law, spoke to Fox News Digital, indicating that the issue of Iranian regime agents in Canada is not new. She expressed that Iranians have been alerting authorities about the presence of these figures and their activities for years.
Shariatmadari pointed out specific instances of questionable behavior, like the profile of Mahmoud Reza Kavali’s son as a successful entrepreneur in a Canadian magazine, despite Kavali himself being a convicted embezzler in Iran. “It’s alarming that they’re becoming more visible, organizing rallies that express support for groups like Hamas and Hezbollah while staying silent on injustices towards Iranians,” she added.
Mehdi Ghadimi, another Iranian journalist in exile in Canada, mentioned that many associated with the Iranian regime come to Western nations through various avenues, either as students or private investors linked to the Revolutionary Guard. “Some who have significant financial backing may be doing so under the watch of security services in Iran,” he explained.
The rising scrutiny of individuals tied to the Iranian government comes against the backdrop of a police investigation into the disappearance of Masoud Masjidi, a mathematician critical of Iran’s leadership, in British Columbia. Authorities are treating the case seriously, with indications suggesting he could be a murder victim, although no suspects have been publicly identified.
This troubling incident has heightened concerns among the Iranian community in Canada, many of whom have long asserted that the Iranian regime monitors and threatens those who criticize it abroad.
Conservative leaders have criticized the government’s weak immigration policies as allowing individuals with Iranian ties to remain in Canada, even in light of visa bans and imposed sanctions. They are demanding immediate action to enforce deportation orders and disrupt financial networks supporting the Iranian regime.
“The stakes are too high for inaction. We expect a plan to be put in place within a week,” they stated.
In response, the Canadian government redirected inquiries to the Canada Border Services Agency, which did not provide any comments.
