Members of the local Iranian community joined supporters in nearly a hundred cities around the world encouraging politicians to see a nuclear deal with Iran as a first step toward a peaceful future.

“We are showing a new face of Iran to the world, that we are looking for peace and we are looking to have a better relationship and friendship with other nations,” said Katy Pezeshki, who helped organize the Edmonton rally outside the Alberta Legislature on Saturday.

In what has been called a historic, though tentative, agreement, Iran and P5+1 — the five permanent member nations of the United Nations Security council, namely the United States, China, France, Russia and the United Kingdom, and their so-called “plus one” Germany — reached an accord that would end strict sanctions imposed on Iran in exchange for Iran limiting their nuclear weapons capabilities.

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action would see sanctions against Iran lifted if Iran agrees to limit their nuclear weapons capabilities by reducing centrifuges necessary for enriching uranium by approximately two thirds, not enriching uranium past 3.67% for 15 years — a concentration considered too low to produce weapons — and be open to inspections to ensure continued compliance.

The Canadian government, however, has remained noticeably absent from these negotiations. Prime Minister Stephen Harper and members of his Conservative party have voiced their distrust of the deal, siding with Israeli allies who are vocally opposed.

Rob Nicholson, Canada’s minister of foreign affairs, issued a statement on July 14 that read, “we appreciate the efforts of the P5+1 to reach an agreement. At the same time, we will continue to judge Iran by its actions not its words. To this end, Canada will continue to support the efforts of the International Atomic Energy Agency to monitor Iran’s compliance with its commitments.

“Iran continues to be a significant threat to international peace and security owing to the regime’s nuclear ambitions, its continuing support for terrorism, its repeated calls for the destruction of Israel, and its disregard for basic human rights,” Nicholson said, adding Canada will examine this deal further before agreeing to take any specific action.

That being said, at Saturday’s rally Linda Duncan, New Democratic Party MP for Edmonton-Strathcona, celebrated the advancement of the deal, calling this an important first step in improving international relations with Iran and a people who are “desperate to find peace.”

“I am here representing the opinions of the New Democratic Party, and we are 100% behind this deal,” she said. “We think now is the time for Canada to step forward and play an [active] role in the monitoring of this deal.”

She said members of her party and the Iranian-Canadian community “have their fingers crossed” that this agreement will come to a successful conclusion that would lift sanctions affecting innocent Iranians.

Pezeshki echoed this sentiment, saying the Iranian people are suffering, adding she hopes this rally will help bolster a message that Iranians want to work towards a peaceful future bringing greater stability to the Middle East.

“Both sides have to trust each other to let Iran grow on this path. They need support from all sides,” she said.

claire.theobald@sunmedia.ca