Canada recently thwarted an alleged assassination attempt by Iran on Irwin Cotler, a former justice minister and vocal critic of Tehran, according to Cotler’s organization on November 18.

Cotler, 84, served as Justice Minister and Attorney General from 2003 to 2006 and has remained an active advocate for global human rights after his political retirement in 2015.

On October 26, he was informed of an imminent assassination threat from Iranian agents, which was believed to be within 48 hours.

The Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights confirmed the plot and police were able to track two suspects involved. However, Cotler was not informed of any arrests.

In response, Tehran dismissed the allegations, labeling them as “ridiculous storytelling” and part of a misinformation campaign against Iran. The Canadian government declined to comment on the matter due to security concerns.

The revelation of the plot has caused distress for Cotler and his family, especially after the ongoing police protection he has received since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.

Cotler is a prominent supporter of Israel and has advocated for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to be designated as a terrorist organization globally. Ottawa officially listed the IRGC as a banned terrorist group in June.