{
  "id": 3470215,
  "title": "Former Iranian official living in Toronto was ‘critical’ to terror finance, CBSA alleges",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/former-iranian-official-living-in-toronto-was-critical-to-terror",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-26T09:00:26.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Global News",
    "slug": "global-news",
    "url": "https://globalnews.ca/news/12034115/iranian-official-toronto-terror-finance-cbsa/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A former Iranian government official who resided in Toronto was allegedly involved in financing terrorism, according to allegations made by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). The 2024 report, which was released on Tuesday, detailed how Abbas Omidi, a deputy director in Iran's Ministry of Industry, Mines, and Trade, contributed to the nation's state-sponsored terrorism. The report claimed that Omidi's influence over Iran's mining sector, which is a major contributor to the country's GDP, benefited the Iranian government in terms of funding both domestic and foreign terrorist activities.\n\nThe CBSA's allegations were presented during Omidi's deportation hearing, which began in March 2024. Despite Omidi's efforts to shield the press from his trial, Global News successfully fought for public access to the proceedings. In addition to the CBSA's claims, the report revealed that the IRGC heavily relies on mining revenues to sustain its involvement with terrorist organizations. Iran's IRGC has reportedly provided financial and material support to a wide range of terrorist organizations, including Hezbollah, Kata'ib Hizballah, and other Shia militias. These groups have received up to $700 million in support from the IRGC, which relies on the mining sector for approximately 40% of Iran's GDP. Omidi, who earned a salary four times higher than the national average, was accused of significantly impacting Iran's economy and enabling the government's ability to fund terrorism and human rights violations.",
  "summary": "A CBSA report alleges that as a deputy director in Iran’s Ministry of Industry, Mines and Trade, Abbas Omidi, assisted the regime's state sponsorship of terrorism.",
  "key_points": [
    "Abbas Omidi, former Iranian official, allegedly funded terrorism in Toronto",
    "CBSA alleges Omidi's role in state-sponsored terrorism through mining sector",
    "IRGC relies on mining revenues for $700M support of terrorist organizations"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Global News",
        "title": "Former Iranian official living in Toronto was ‘critical’ to terror finance, CBSA alleges",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/former-iranian-official-living-in-toronto-was-critical-to-terror-3472108",
        "published": "2026-08-26T09:00:26.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}