Spencer Platt via Getty Images Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks to world leaders at the 72nd United Nations (UN) General Assembly at UN headquarters on Sept. 21, 2017 in New York City. Topics discussed at this year's gathering included Iran, North Korea and global warming.

GA161076 via Getty Images Islamic Republic of Iran passport.

Viewpoints amongst Iranian-Canadians Iranian-Canadians cannot access consular services, making it difficult, if not impossible, to renew passports or to obtain visitors visas for family members. Iranian-Canadians hoping for the re-establishment of relations are not naïve, but rather realist in their views of the regime: they are cognizant of the fact that Iran is an undemocratic nation with a poor record of human rights — but underscore that the problem impeding the relationship, namely Iran's noncompliance with United Nations resolutions regarding its nuclear programs, has been resolved through the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) (better known as the Iran nuclear deal). Others fault Canadian foreign policy for being tied to the American position and urge Canada to adopt a more neutral line by re-opening relations. Lastly, a Canadian embassy in Tehran would, in theory, provide leverage to help Canadians (and perhaps Americans) who seek diplomatic assistance while in Iran. On the other side, a substantive portion of Iranians continue to express opposition to re-opening diplomatic relations with Iran, with one of the most common arguments being that the government of Iran is not a legitimate representation of its citizens. Evidence for the latter includes the protests since 1979, notably the 2009 and 2011 election protests. From this perspective, the re-establishment of relations with Iran would lend credibility to the regime and marginalize the voice of the opposition. Other critics note that pre-existing relations were unable to stop the murder of Zahra Kazemi. Others are distrustful of the intent of the Iranian embassies citing that they have been used in the past to spy on dissident Iranian-Canadians.

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PaulMcKinnon via Getty Images The Canadian Government closed its embassy in Iran and expelled all remaining Iranian Diplomats from the Iranian Embassy on Metcalfe Street, pictured here, in Ottawa.