Linda Frum and Tony Clement: Keep the pressure on Tehran

As the Conservative caucus hosts Iran Accountability Week on Parliament Hill, we are concerned that the Liberal government will pursue policies with Iran that jettison Canada’s values and interests. In recent days alone, there have been worrisome signs that any rush to embrace Iran remains ill-advised and dangerous.

This month, Iranian officials have expressed outrage at the U.S. Supreme Court ruling freeing up billions in frozen Iranian assets to compensate victims of terror. Tehran has also made clear its displeasure with the U.S. increasing its military presence in Syria to combat the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. At the same time, the U.S. has openly expressed its irritation at Russia’s early delivery of the sophisticated S-300 air defence system to Iran, an alarming development for our ally Israel.

These are only some of the indicators that dealing with Iran comes with no certainties. The regime is mounting little more than a marketing facade to attract foreign investment to its weakened economy. In truth, the regime has done little, if anything, to warrant a thaw in relations...

See also:  Irwin Cotler: Naming Tehran’s victims