Canadian Government Awards Contracts to Controversial Immigrant
Global News reported that the Canadian government has awarded over $2 million in contracts to Mohammad Reza Ghafouri Fard. He is an Iranian immigrant with ties to the terrorist organization Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and is also the son of a former Iranian vice president, Hassan Ghafouri Fard.
According to a report by Global News, which utilized newly declassified documents from the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), Ghafouri moved to Canada in 2013 and began operating a business under the name “Sal Ghafouri.” Before emigrating, he was reportedly involved in developing anti-aircraft missiles and electronic jamming technology for Iran’s military, including the IRGC.
Ghafouri is said to have used front companies in Southeast Asia to acquire restricted components for Iranian military operations. He allegedly acknowledged to investigators that he was aware these items were restricted due to sanctions but expressed indifference toward this fact.
He entered Canada through an immigration program for skilled workers but frequently returned to Iran to meet with the Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS). CSIS reports that he shared details of his Canadian employment with Iranian intelligence, and they provided him with specific guidelines on evading Canadian law enforcement.
The MOIS advised him against traveling to the United States for fear that the FBI would take notice of his activities related to evading sanctions.
The CSIS dossier revealed a concerning delay in the Canadian government’s response to Ghafouri’s activities. He reportedly faced no repercussions from Canadian authorities until May 2026 when immigration officials informed him that his application for permanent residency was denied due to him being a “threat to the security of Canada.”
Interestingly, Ghafouri had been identified as a potential security risk back in 2017, yet he managed to secure government contracts, including one worth $1.5 million with the Canadian Armed Forces, long after this flag was raised. He even obtained another military contract in 2024, a year after CSIS had submitted a screening report to immigration authorities.
Over his 13 years in Canada, Ghafouri has demonstrated considerable business acumen, founding a company called Melanite and later incorporating another called Radian in 2018, both focusing on government procurement. There haven’t been any public complaints against his companies regarding their business practices, as per the Global News report.
On the flip side, Ghafouri has lodged several complaints against the Canadian government, alleging misconduct in the contract bidding process and pursuing legal action related to his citizenship application. He seeks damages of up to $25,000 for the troubles caused by delays in obtaining citizenship.
Ghafouri, now 45, has admitted to being involved with the Iranian government and the IRGC but claims to have distanced himself from his past and intends to live productively in Canada. In legal filings, he expressed the toll that delays in citizenship processing have taken on his family and its endeavors in Edmonton.
Some observers quoted in Global News suggested that this case reflects a lack of seriousness regarding national security in Canada and highlights poor communication among governmental agencies.
Professor Thomas Juneau from the University of Ottawa termed the situation “absurd,” given the troubling information gathered by CSIS regarding Ghafouri. He attributed the issue to lax immigration screenings for individuals from repressive regimes, suggesting that this allows authoritarian governments to embed loyal operatives in democratic countries.
Furthermore, a report from the Jerusalem Post indicated that the Ghafouri case might exacerbate tensions between Canada and the United States, particularly in light of his history of developing weaponry that poses threats to American forces.
