Iran’s Nuclear Gamble, Canada, and Obama’s Second Term

John Mundy

By:

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11 January, 2013

In 2007, when attempts to agree on a reciprocal exchange of Ambassadors between Canada and Iran failed, Ambassador Mundy was expelled by President Ahmedinajad and diplomatic relations between the two countries were downgraded. Subsequently, in September: 2012, relations between Iran and Canada were suspended and the two Embassies were closed. Mr. Mundy has since been a vocal critic of the the Canadian Government’s decision to suspend diplomatic relations with Iran and continues to advocate a political solution to the Iranian crisis. He has argued that no country suspends diplomatic relations with an adversary lightly. It signals that the possibility for future dialogue is over. While it is true that Canada has not been a major player in international negotiations with Iran, with this latest Canadian decision to suspend diplomatic relations with Iran we are now effectively out of the game.

Speaker Biography: John Mundy is a retired Canadian diplomat who served as Canada’s last Ambassador to Iran. In 2007, when attempts to agree upon a reciprocal exchange of Ambassadors with Iran failed, he was expelled by President Ahmadinejad and diplomatic relations between the two countries were downgraded. Subsequently, in September 2012, relations between Iran and Canada were suspended and the two Embassies were closed.

Currently Mr. Mundy is an Associate at the University of Ottawa’s Centre for Policy Studies (http://cips.uottawa.ca/john-mundy/). He is writing a book about his experience in Iran and is also a regular commentator in the Globe & Mail, CBC Television and Radio, Voice of America, BBC Persian Service and other media outlets. He has criticized the Canadian Government’s decision to suspend diplomatic relations with Iran and advocates for a political solution to the Iranian crisis.

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Event Contact:

Rebecca Berthiaume
rberthiaume@opencanada.org

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