A growing security alert in Canada has centered on potential covert threats from Iranian actors operating domestically, drawing renewed attention from government agencies and human rights advocates alike.
According to Fox News, increased concern over recent Middle East turmoil has led Canadian officials and activists to warn of possible transnational repression targeting Iranian dissidents and other vulnerable groups inside Canada.
Iran’s military strikes against Israel have diminished, but Canadian authorities continue to monitor the geopolitical aftermath. Through Public Safety Canada, the government has affirmed its commitment to assessing the "residual impact" of the regional instability. Canada’s current national terrorism threat level, set to "medium," has not changed, but agencies remain vigilant.
Former justice minister and human rights advocate Irwin Cotler warned of a new danger that may unfold inside Canada’s borders. Cotler, who has long criticized Iran’s human rights record, has been under 24-hour protection from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police since 2023. This came after Canadian intelligence revealed a death threat against him, allegedly traced to Iranian operatives.
According to Cotler, individuals advocating for human rights, members of the Iranian diaspora, journalists, and members of both the Jewish and Israeli-Canadian communities are among those potentially at risk. He warned that Iranian sleeper cells may have been activated to carry out missions against opponents of the regime now living in Canada.
Past Warnings and New Demands for Oversight
Cotler reiterated his longstanding call for the creation of an independent Canadian agency that would lead responses to foreign threats, particularly from nations like Iran, China, and Russia. He drew attention to comments made by Iranian-born Canadian lawyer Kaveh Shahrooz, who believes the current Canadian understanding of the scope of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) presence in Canada is insufficient.
This follows a turbulent wave of domestic crackdowns inside Iran. During 12 days of hostilities with Israel, Iranian authorities arrested hundreds of citizens under suspicion of collaborating with Israeli intelligence. In one high-profile case, three accused political prisoners were executed. Ahmadreza Djalali, a Swedish-Iranian academic who has been incarcerated in Iran’s Evin Prison for nine years, was recently relocated to an unknown site. Cotler revealed that there is now a pressing risk of Djalali being executed, calling the situation an “imminent threat.”
International Pressure Builds Over IRGC Classification
The IRGC, Iran’s elite military force with growing international operations, was officially designated a terrorist entity by the Canadian government in 2024. The United States made a similar declaration earlier, and both governments have accused the group of engaging in covert and aggressive action against overseas critics.
In October 2023, the U.S. Department of Justice charged Ruhollah Bazghandi, a senior IRGC member, with orchestrating a failed attempt to assassinate Iranian-American activist Masih Alinejad the year before. Cotler, a close associate of Alinejad, referenced the plot as emblematic of broader strategies used by Tehran. Canada completely severed diplomatic ties with Iran in 2012, and in 2022, the country formally labeled the Iranian government a terrorist entity. Despite these official positions, experts and officials fear increasing covert operations carried out against dissidents living in cities like Toronto, where support for Israel is sometimes met with threats.
Canadian Officials Express Deepening Concerns
Speaking from The Hague via a virtual press conference during the NATO summit, Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand stressed Canada's growing anxiety over authoritarian states' tactics. She indicated that interference of the type described by Cotler from the Iranian regime is increasingly being taken seriously by Canadian authorities.
In a telephone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Anand reaffirmed that Canada continues to seek accountability concerning the January 2020 downing of Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752. The incident claimed the lives of 55 Canadian citizens and 30 permanent residents. Cotler stated that families of the victims from Flight PS752 have received threats and harassment, part of what he interprets as a broad campaign by Tehran to intimidate those seeking justice and transparency around the tragedy.
Canadian Border Agency Steps Up Measures
On Wednesday, The Globe and Mail reported that the Canada Border Services Agency flagged 20 individuals as inadmissible due to their suspected connections to Iran’s regime. These individuals are believed to hold senior positions within the Iranian government infrastructure. Recent rallies and community gatherings have also illuminated the divide and tension surrounding these issues. In Toronto, Iranian regime critics publicly supported Israel following an attack by Hamas, underscoring both the political engagement and the risks of such expression amid alleged threats from abroad. A spokesperson for Public Safety Canada, Noémie Allard, emphasized that Canadian law enforcement remains on high alert and is actively responding to these evolving threats. Authorities have not disclosed specific investigations, but increased coordination across agencies is expected.
Call for Renewed Attention Across Sectors
While officials work behind the scenes to address security risks, Cotler continues to advocate for broader public awareness and institutional changes. He emphasized the need to recognize the diverse groups potentially at risk and the urgency of shielding them from external interference. “This is a moment in which we need to be on alert,” Cotler said. As an individual who has faced personal threats and seen friends targeted abroad, he believes Canada must confront the possibility that foreign-directed repression has already taken root on its soil.
As tensions remain high, the call for vigilance is not just aimed at government agencies—it extends to civic institutions, immigrant communities, and the broader public. The concern, advocates stress, is not speculative but based on documented threats and violent plots abroad, with warning signs now appearing closer to home.
