QUEBEC CITY— Calling Iran “the most significant threat to global peace and security in the world today," Canada’s foreign affairs minister, John Baird, abruptly announced Friday that his government had cut all diplomatic ties with the country.
Baird told reporters in Vladivostok, Russia, where he was attending an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit meeting, that Canada had closed its embassy in Tehran and given Iranian diplomats in Canada five days to leave. An online list prepared by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade indicated Friday morning that there were 18 Iranian diplomats in Canada.
The action by Canada contrasts with its decision in 1979 to keep its embassy in Tehran open after the U.S. Embassy there was seized by students and several diplomats were held hostage. Six Americans found sanctuary in the Canadian Embassy and were eventually smuggled out of the country using Canadian passports.
Baird offered numerous reasons for his decision, including an attack in November by a crowd on the British Embassy in Tehran, which led to concerns for the safety of Canadian diplomats there.
“The Iranian regime has shown blatant disregard for the Vienna Convention and its guarantee of protection for diplomatic personnel," Baird said.
Baird also noted international criticism of Iran over its support of the government of President Bashar Assad in Syria as it violently suppresses a widespread popular uprising. He also cited its human rights record, its assistance to terrorist groups and its noncompliance with U.N. resolutions concerning its nuclear program.
He added that Iran “routinely threatens the existence of Israel and engages in racist anti-Semitic rhetoric and incitement to genocide."
