Former Canadian Minister Claims to Be Target of Alleged Iranian Assassination Plot

Canada’s former justice minister has verified to the BBC that he was the intended victim of a recent Iranian assassination plot which was thwarted. Irwin Cotler’s office stated that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) had notified him in late October about an Iranian-supported scheme to assassinate him. Mr. Cotler, aged 84, has been a persistent critic of Iran and previously advocated for the designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization. The BBC has sought a statement from the Iranian foreign ministry regarding this matter. This purported conspiracy targeting Mr. Cotler follows the filing of charges by the US against an individual accused of attempting to assassinate President elect-Donald Trump at Iran’s behest. Canada’s The Globe and Mail newspaper initially reported the alleged scheme against Mr. Cotler on Monday morning, referencing an undisclosed source. Subsequently, Mr. Cotler’s office corroborated this report to the BBC. The RCMP informed the BBC that it refrains from disclosing specifics about its security protocols or confirming the identities of individuals who might be under protection. However, The Globe and Mail reported that the RCMP notified Mr. Cotler on 26 October of an immediate assassination threat from Iranian agents, expected within 48 hours. The newspaper indicated that authorities were aware of two suspects connected to the plot, though their arrest status or whether they departed the country remains unknown. The publication also stated that Mr. Cotler was informed on Thursday that the danger to him had diminished. Mr. Cotler, who is Jewish, has reportedly been under continuous 24/7 protection by the RCMP for over a year, commencing after the 7 October 2023 Hamas attack targeting Israel. Canadian intelligence had identified him as a prominent target for Iran, a supporter of Hamas. To ensure his safety, Mr. Cotler was supplied with bulletproof vehicles, officers equipped with heavy weaponry, and additional security provisions. Mr. Cotler, currently retired, served as a member of parliament in Canada from 1999 to 2015. From 2003 to 2006, he held the positions of Minister of Justice and Attorney General within the Liberal administration of former Prime Minister Paul Martin. He is a vocal opponent of the Tehran regime and, in 2013, had previously introduced a motion in the Canadian parliament advocating for the IRGC to be sanctioned and classified as a terrorist organization. Canada officially designated the IRGC as a terrorist entity in June of the current year. Mr. Cotler has acted as a representative for Iranian political prisoners and maintains significant connections with Israel. His daughter, Michal Cotler-Wunsh, is an Israeli politician and diplomat who previously served as a member of the Israeli parliament. Earlier this month, US authorities apprehended an Afghan national in connection with an alleged Iranian plot to assassinate incoming president Trump before he was elected. Farhad Shakeri, 51, is accused of being assigned the task of “providing a plan” to kill Trump, as stated in an indictment filed against him by the US Department of Justice. Mr. Shakeri has not been apprehended and is thought to be located in Iran. In the US, two additional individuals were arrested concerning a purported conspiracy to murder an American journalist known for criticizing Iran. Esmaeil Baghaei, spokesperson for Iran’s foreign ministry, has addressed these accusations, stating that they are “completely baseless.” Mr. Baghaei, in a formal statement, mentioned that comparable allegations of plots to assassinate US presidents have surfaced previously, which Iran refuted and were subsequently proven false. He further commented that reiterating these assertions risked “further complicating the issues between the US and Iran”.