Canada awarded contracts to son of former Iranian VP

The Canadian government has awarded more than $2 million in federal and provincial contracts to Mohammad Reza Ghafouri Fard, an individual under investigation for his alleged ties to Iran’s military programs.

Operating in Alberta under the name “Sal Ghafouri,” the 45-year-old received funding and contracts from agencies including the RCMP and the Department of National Defence. Records indicate he also participated in an official Canadian trade mission to Latin America and received a federal business grant.

A declassified report from the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) alleges that Ghafouri, the son of former Iranian Vice President Hassan Ghafouri Fard, was involved in the research and development of Iranian military technologies. The report claims that prior to immigrating to Canada in 2013, Ghafouri helped develop anti-aircraft missile systems and jamming tools for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Additionally, CSIS alleges he was part of a covert procurement structure used to acquire components for Iranian military projects through front companies.