Canada breaks off relations with Iran

“Diplomatic relations between Canada and Iran have been suspended. All Canadian diplomatic staff have left Iran,and Iranian diplomats in Ottawa have been instructed to leave within five days,” he added,in a statement.

Canada did not cite a specific incident that caused the breakdown in ties,but issued a strongly worded attack on Tehran’s support for Bashar al-Assad’s pariah Syrian regime and its “incitement to genocide” against Israel.

Baird also attacked Tehran’s failure to account for its nuclear program,which Western powers allege is designed to give Iran a nuclear bomb,and accused the “Iranian regime” of promoting international terrorism.

He also warned Canadians,including dual national Canadian-Iranians,that Ottawa will not be able to provide assistance to them if they travel to Iran.

There was no immediate reaction from Tehran,but Iran had already threatened “reciprocal action” in May,when Canada closed the visa section in its Iranian embassy,one used by thousands of Iranians with ties to Canada.

An estimated 120,000 people of Iranian origin or descent live in Canada,according to official 2006 census data,and thousands of their relatives in Iran visit them every year.

But ties between the governments are far from warm. Ties have also been strained by Tehran’s treatment of Iranian-born Canadians who travelled to visit their homeland. Iran does not recognize dual nationality and authorities have denied Canadian detainees consular protection. Today’s stark statement marked a more definitive breakdown in ties.

“The Iranian regime is providing increasing military assistance to the Assad regime,” Baird said. “It refuses to comply with UN resolutions pertaining to its nuclear program; it routinely threatens the existence of Israel and engages in racist anti-Semitic rhetoric and incitement to genocide,” the statement continued.

“It is among the world’s worst violators of human rights and it shelters and materially supports terrorist groups. “Moreover,the Iranian regime has shown blatant disregard

for the Vienna Convention and its guarantee of protection for diplomatic personnel. Under the circumstances,Canada can no longer maintain a diplomatic presence in Iran.

“Our diplomats serve Canada as civilians,and their safety is our number one priority,” he said. The statement advised Canadians in Iran needing consular

assistance to try to contact the Canadian mission in Turkey.