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Escalating sanctions had already reduced exports to Iran to about $1-million a year and the trade ban does not include food, medicine, medical equipment, humanitarian goods or technologies that encourage democratic forces by helping Iranians break through the regime’s Internet restrictions.

Canadians are also still allowed to send money to family members in Iran as long as the recipients are not on the sanctions list and the transfers do not exceed $40,000.

The government imposed sanctionsWednesday on more than 100 people and companies linked to Iranian nuclear activities, including airlines, banks and investment houses, bringing the total number of individuals and “entities” on the list to almost 600.

The regime is hollow. It does not have the depth, the intellect, the humanity, or the humility to bring about a better future for its people

Under the Conservatives, relations with Iran have steadily deteriorated as Ottawa has increasingly sought to play a leading international role in opposing Tehran’s nuclear ambitions and human rights abuses.

In a speech three weeks ago, Mr. Baird urged Iranian voters to cast the clerical regime aside in upcoming presidential elections. “The regime is hollow. It does not have the depth, the intellect, the humanity, or the humility to bring about a better future for its people,” he said.

Iran has responded by portraying Canada as a puppet of Israel and referring to the Harper government, through its English-language propaganda arm, as “Iranophobic” and an “extremist administration.”

The “threat of a nuclear Iran” was one of the topics to be discussed when Mr. Baird meets with his German counterpart, Minister of Foreign Affairs Guido Westerwelle, in Ottawa on Thursday morning.

“It is crucial that Canada and the international community continue to seek out additional economic and diplomatic tools to confront the Iranian nuclear threat and bring the Islamic republic into compliance with its international obligations,” said David Koschitzky, chair of the Toronto-based Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs.

National Post

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