Edmonton awarded large contracts to Mohammad Reza Ghafouri Fard, son of Iran’s former vice-president and a man CSIS alleges helped Iran’s military and the IRGC evade sanctions, who was targeted for deportation.
The CBSA abandoned its deportation proceedings. Yet the Liberal government’s own immigration department still says he “may be a threat to Canada’s security.”
The Story
The Canadian government awarded millions worth of contracts to the son of Iran’s former vice-president, despite an ongoing investigation into allegations that he helped the Islamic Republic evade sanctions and develop missile systems, documents obtained by Global News reveal.
Since founding two companies in Alberta, an Edmonton resident named “Sal Ghafouri” has received more than $2 million in federal and provincial contracts, including from the RCMP and the Department of National Defense, public records show.
He is the son of Hassan Ghafouri Fard, an Iranian politician who served as the country’s vice president. Ghafouri was “involved in the research and development of Iranian military technologies.”
Before immigrating to Canada in 2013 and going into business as “Sal,” Ghafouri allegedly helped develop a guided anti-aircraft missile system and a jamming tool to “confront American aircraft” for the Iranian military and Revolutionary Guard, or IRGC.
He was also part of a “covert procurement structure” that used a front company in Southeast Asia to purchase components that were needed for Iranian military projects.
Ghafouri worked as an engineer at the Iranian company that provided satellites to the Iranian military and IRGC.
Good job, Canada. Prime Minister Mark Carney did want to drop the US in favor of middle countries. Maybe Iran will suffice.