Canada Severs Diplomatic Relations With Iran

I had Blazing Cat Fur's report at the sidebar, but I'm moving it over to the front-page, "About Time: Canada closes embassy in Iran, expels Iranian diplomats."

And see Telegraph UK, "Canada breaks off diplomatic relations with Iran":

Canada closed its Tehran embassy and expelled Iranian diplomats on Friday, in an unexpected and dramatic move.

Canada expressed concern for the mission's safety and criticised Iran's support for the Syrian regime and its threats against Israel.

"Canada's position on the regime in Iran is well known. Canada views the government of Iran as the most significant threat to global peace and security in the world today," Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird said.

"Diplomatic relations between Canada and Iran have been suspended. All Canadian diplomatic staff have left Iran, and Iranian diplomats in Ottawa have been instructed to leave within five days," he added, in a statement.

Canada did not cite a specific incident that caused the breakdown in ties, but issued a strongly worded attack on Tehran's support for Bashar al-Assad's pariah Syrian regime and its "incitement to genocide" against Israel.

More at that top link, and also, "Iran sends elite troops to aid Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria."

An arc of influence across the Persian Gulf and Middle East regions, the implications of Iranian power seem to be lost in this administration. Syria is not turning out so well and it won't be good for U.S. interests and those of our allies.