Members of the Iranian Football Federation delegation have been denied entry into Canada upon arrival at Toronto's main international airport.
Operative Information Center-OMM reports that the delegation was scheduled to participate in activities related to the FIFA Congress and World Cup preparations in Vancouver, but immigration authorities blocked their entry.
According to reports citing Reuters and Iran's semi-official Tasnim News Agency, the delegation included the President of the Iranian Football Federation, Mehdi Taj, Secretary General Hedayat Mombeni, and Deputy Secretary General Hamed Momeni. Despite possessing valid visas, the officials were intercepted by immigration officers and forced to return on the first available flight. The Iranian side characterized the incident as "unacceptable behavior" by Canadian immigration officials. It was noted that Mehdi Taj is a former member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
The Canadian government has maintained its policy of not commenting on individual cases; however, officials reiterated that individuals associated with the IRGC are considered inadmissible to Canada. This incident reflects the ongoing diplomatic friction between the two nations, particularly following Canada's formal designation of the IRGC as a terrorist entity. Such measures underscore the rigorous vetting processes applied to international delegations with links to sanctioned security organizations.
