Canada sanctions Iranian entities and officials, citing misinformation

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OTTAWA — Canada has imposed another round of sanctions, punishing three Iranian entities and two leaders Ottawa blames for propagating misinformation.

The new sanctions include a censorship body known as the Press Supervisory Board and a propaganda publication called the Iran Newspaper.

Also sanctioned is the 15 Khordad Foundation, a group originally founded to financially support the families of war dead, but which ended up laundering money and offering a bounty for the death of writer Salman Rushdie.

Individuals sanctioned include Vahid Yaminpour, a senior bureaucrat who helps run a state broadcaster that carries the regime's talking points.

Mohsen Qomi, a cleric Ottawa describes as a "senior regime insider" who advises on Iran's foreign policy and communications abroad, is also on the list.

The sanctions come a day after the world marked three years since Iran's military shot down Flight PS752, killing all on board, including dozens of Canadians.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 9, 2023.