Editorial Demands Action Against Iranian Regime Agents in Canada
In the wake of a massive protest in Toronto, a new editorial is calling for decisive action against what it describes as a significant security threat to Canada. The piece argues that the federal government must crack down on an estimated 700 agents of the Iranian regime who are currently living within Canadian borders.
Toronto Protest Highlights Growing Concerns
On Sunday, February 1, 2026, approximately 150,000 demonstrators marched peacefully through the streets of Toronto. According to police estimates, the protesters were demanding an end to what they called the barbaric regime of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The editorial describes their cause as just and directly links it to broader national security concerns.
The editorial makes a compelling case that removing Iran's Islamist government would not only bring justice to the Iranian people but would also contribute to lasting peace in the Middle East. More importantly for Canadian readers, it argues this action would eliminate a major domestic terrorist threat facing Canada today.
Iran's Designation as State Sponsor of Terrorism
The editorial points to Iran's official designation as a state sponsor of global terrorism. The regime funds multiple organizations that have been classified as terrorist entities by the Canadian government, including:
- Hamas
- Hezbollah
- Palestinian Islamic Jihad
- The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)
- The IRGC's Quds Force
Beyond its international activities, the editorial highlights the IRGC's direct responsibility for the deaths of 55 Canadian citizens and 30 permanent residents. This tragic loss occurred when the IRGC shot down Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 over Tehran on January 8, 2020, killing all 176 passengers aboard.
Foreign Interference and Security Threats
Canada's foreign interference inquiry has formally identified Iran as a security threat alongside other nations including China, Russia, India, and Pakistan. The government acknowledges that Iran engages in foreign interference and transnational repression targeting Canadian citizens of Iranian origin.
According to official statements, Iranian intelligence services operate indirectly through agents, contacts, and sympathizers within Canada. These individuals are sometimes associated with organized crime groups and engage in coercive practices against Canadians, including:
- Monitoring community members
- Harassing critics of the regime
- Intimidating those who express dissent
The Canadian Security Intelligence Service has identified credible death threats by Iran against Canadian citizens. One particularly alarming example cited in the editorial is a failed assassination attempt against former Canadian justice minister Irwin Cotler.
Limited Government Action to Date
Despite these serious concerns, the editorial notes that government action has been minimal. A 2023 investigation by Global News reported that upwards of 700 operatives of the Khamenei regime were living in Canada. While the federal government has imposed sanctions on pro-Khamenei organizations and individuals, and banned senior Iranian officials from entering Canada in 2022, only one agent of the regime had been deported as of last year.
The editorial concludes that this limited response is unacceptable and calls for immediate, serious attention to what it characterizes as a pressing national security issue. The piece emphasizes that with hundreds of Iranian agents reportedly operating within Canada, stronger measures are urgently needed to protect Canadian citizens and national interests.
