Canada slaps new sanctions on Iran

Canada's top diplomat announced Wednesday more sanctions against Iran, including a total ban on all trade with the Islamic republic, ramping up pressure on Tehran to scrap its nuclear program.

Ottawa also added 30 individuals and 82 companies to its Iran sanctions blacklist, accusing them of supporting Tehran's nuclear efforts and helping the country avoid international sanctions.

"Canada's grave and sincere concern over Iran's nuclear program again compels us to act decisively," Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird said.

"In round after round of talks with both the International Atomic Energy Agency and the P5+1 (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany), Iran has failed to engage meaningfully while the risk posed by its enrichment activities only increases.

"The absence of progress... leads Canada to ban, effective immediately, all imports to and exports from Iran," he added.

The move is part of an apparent coordinated effort by Western governments to isolate Iran.

Western powers have demanded that Iran suspend its uranium enrichment program, fearing that Tehran would use the material to build a nuclear bomb.

Iran insists its nuclear program is peaceful and intended solely for civilian energy purposes.

The sanctions blacklist bans Canadian entities and individuals from any financial or commercial relations with those named.