‘Permit for a terrorist’: Canada opposition asks who cleared ex-IRGC official’s entry

Key Points:

• Mehdi Taj, president of Iran’s football federation and former IRGC intelligence commander, was issued a Temporary Resident Permit (TRP) allowing him to enter Canada despite the IRGC being listed as a terrorist entity, but he was turned back within hours after Iran International’s report.
• The incident sparked political backlash in Ottawa, with Conservative deputy leader Melissa Lantsman demanding transparency on who approved Taj’s entry, criticizing the government for potentially circumventing immigration rules.
• Opposition MPs pressed ministers in Parliament for explanations, but government officials cited privacy laws and suggested the permit may have been granted unintentionally and later revoked, which critics say is insufficient.
• The controversy raises broader concerns about Canada’s handling of individuals linked to the Islamic Republic and the safeguards around Temporary Resident Permits amid ongoing international criticism of Iran’s crackdown on protests.
• The case has attracted international media attention, and opposition parties vow to continue pressing the government for answers on the permit’s approval and measures to prevent similar security lapses.