[caption id="attachment_30784" align="alignright" width="300"] Canadas Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird[/caption]
Iran Foreign Ministry spokesman has criticized Canada for imposing a total trade ban on Iranian goods, saying the decision is part of a blame game played by Ottawa.
These statements are continuation of the Canadian government's projections [against Iran] because we did not have considerable economic relation with this country to be cut off, Abbas Araqchi said on Friday.
Araqchi's remarks came after Ottawa announced more illegal unilateral sanctions against Iran on Wednesday, including an overarching ban on nearly all exports to and imports from the Islamic Republic, in a move to ramp up pressure on Tehran over its nuclear energy program.
Canadas Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird announced the new sanctions on Wednesday.
Iran vehemently refuses allegations leveled by the United States, Israel and some of their allies that its nuclear energy program pursues non-civilian objectives. Tehran argues that as a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), it is entitled to develop nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.
In December 2012, the Canadian government imposed restrictions on Iranian oil, gas, mining, metals and shipping sectors.
On September 7, 2012, the Canadian government closed its embassy in Tehran and ordered Iranian diplomats to leave Canada within five days.
The Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper is known for his close relations with the Israeli regime.