Ottawa police have reported the arrest of an individual on charges related to trespassing following an incident where Iran’s closed embassy was vandalized during an anti-regime demonstration on Monday. The police were alerted at approximately 5:50 a.m. about a person scaling the embassy’s perimeter fence.
The embassy has remained unoccupied since Canada terminated diplomatic relations with Iran back in 2012. A video shared on social media depicts a protester within the security perimeter removing Iran’s national emblem from above the outer doors and manipulating a gated window.
The emblem removed is the seal of the Islamic Republic of Iran, also present on the national flag. The footage shows the emblem being replaced by a new sign and flag featuring a lion and sun, symbols that were emblematic of Iran prior to the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Authorities are investigating the video circulating online for potential additional offenses. While the authenticity of the video has not been independently verified by The Canadian Press, it is confirmed that the national emblem was missing from above the doors by Monday afternoon.
The incident at the embassy occurred amidst widespread protests in Iran that originated in Tehran but have since spread across the country. The repercussions of the vandalism on the embassy’s status remain uncertain. According to the Vienna Convention, countries are obligated to “respect and safeguard” diplomatic premises even after diplomatic ties have been severed.
Global Affairs Canada (GAC) is expected to provide a statement regarding its understanding of these obligations. In Canada, the Swiss embassy serves as Iran’s “protecting power,” overseeing diplomatic properties and some consular services in Tehran in the absence of an official Iranian presence. Italy fulfills a similar role on behalf of Canada in Tehran.
The Iranian mission to the United Nations and the Swiss Embassy in Ottawa have yet to issue statements in response to inquiries. Prior to this incident, red paint was splattered on the embassy’s main entrance, and the Iranian flag displayed outside has significantly weathered.
Protest posters were affixed to the embassy’s fence, reminiscent of actions taken by protesters in 2022 following the death of Mahsa Amini, a woman who passed away in police custody in Tehran. The recent protests began with grievances over the cost of living, water and electricity shortages but have evolved into calls for the resignation of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
In response to the demonstrations, the Iranian government has employed force and restricted communications within the country. Reports indicate a high number of protester casualties, exceeding 2,000, as stated by the Human Rights Activists News Agency based in the U.S.
Observers, such as University of Ottawa professor Thomas Juneau, note the intensity and breadth of the current protests, highlighting a potentially significant challenge to the regime’s stability. The ongoing unrest coincides with Iran’s diminished influence in the Middle East due to various regional developments.
Global Affairs Canada has updated its travel advisory, cautioning against travel to Iran and advising Canadians in the country to depart immediately due to the ongoing nationwide demonstrations.