Former Canadian Justice Minister Irwin Cotler discloses to the BBC that he was recently an intended target of an Iranian instigated assassination plot, with reports emerging of his increased security measures and concerns regarding Iranian threats.
**Allegations of Iranian Assassination Plot Targeting Ex-Justice Minister Unfold**
**Allegations of Iranian Assassination Plot Targeting Ex-Justice Minister Unfold**
Details emerge as Irwin Cotler reveals he was the subject of a foiled Iranian-backed assassination attempt.
In a startling revelation, former Canadian justice minister Irwin Cotler has confirmed allegations suggesting he was the target of a thwarted assassination plot backed by Iran. Cotler, 84, stated to the BBC that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) informed him late October of an imminent assassination attempt orchestrated by Iranian agents. The situation is particularly concerning given Cotler's longstanding stance against the Iranian regime, which he has publicly criticized for years, including calls to designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization.
The Globe and Mail first broke news of the alleged plot, which indicated that Cotler was notified by the authorities about a potential threat he faced within a mere 48-hour window. While the RCMP refrained from disclosing specifics regarding its protective activities, the newspaper reported that Canadian intelligence had flagged Cotler as a significant target for Iran, particularly following the recent 7 October Hamas attacks against Israel, which have heightened tensions surrounding individuals critical of Tehran.
Since these reports, Cotler has purportedly been under constant protection provided by the RCMP, equipped with bulletproof vehicles and heavily armed personnel. His activism for Iranian political prisoners and his connections to Israel, including family ties to Israeli politics, have positioned him at odds with the Iranian government, making him a focal point in these rising tensions.
The news emerges against a backdrop of escalating accusations against Iran, including a recent indictment of an Afghan national accused by U.S. authorities of trying to orchestrate an assassination plot against then-president-elect Donald Trump. Iranian officials, however, have dismissed such allegations as unfounded, characterizing them as mere political rhetoric that complicates U.S.-Iran relations.
While Cotler's reported threat was downgraded, the implications of these tensions continue to unfold, evoking concern about the safety of individuals who openly oppose the Iranian regime's actions internationally.
The Globe and Mail first broke news of the alleged plot, which indicated that Cotler was notified by the authorities about a potential threat he faced within a mere 48-hour window. While the RCMP refrained from disclosing specifics regarding its protective activities, the newspaper reported that Canadian intelligence had flagged Cotler as a significant target for Iran, particularly following the recent 7 October Hamas attacks against Israel, which have heightened tensions surrounding individuals critical of Tehran.
Since these reports, Cotler has purportedly been under constant protection provided by the RCMP, equipped with bulletproof vehicles and heavily armed personnel. His activism for Iranian political prisoners and his connections to Israel, including family ties to Israeli politics, have positioned him at odds with the Iranian government, making him a focal point in these rising tensions.
The news emerges against a backdrop of escalating accusations against Iran, including a recent indictment of an Afghan national accused by U.S. authorities of trying to orchestrate an assassination plot against then-president-elect Donald Trump. Iranian officials, however, have dismissed such allegations as unfounded, characterizing them as mere political rhetoric that complicates U.S.-Iran relations.
While Cotler's reported threat was downgraded, the implications of these tensions continue to unfold, evoking concern about the safety of individuals who openly oppose the Iranian regime's actions internationally.
