Resignation of Tehran Metro Company CEO Amidst International Sanctions

In the wake of sanctions imposed by Canada over his involvement in Tehran’s crackdown on women resisting the hijab, Masoud Dorosti, CEO of Tehran Metro Company, has stepped down from his position.

Dorosti found himself on Canada’s sanctions list on International Women’s Day, a move that coincided with his family’s arrangements to relocate to Canada—a plan that has now been thwarted.

Canada’s latest round of sanctions, marking the 17th package against Iran since the tragic death of Mahsa Amini while in morality police custody in September 2022, targeted Dorosti and senior MP Zohreh Elahian. The sanctions aim to hold accountable those involved in the violent repression of Iranian citizens, particularly women and girls, bringing the total number of sanctioned individuals to 153, along with 87 entities.

Mélanie Joly, Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, emphasized the nation’s commitment to defending the rights of women and girls. She condemned the Iranian regime’s use of cruel tactics against those advocating for liberty of choice and free speech, highlighting the increasingly repressive environment in which women and girls face severe consequences for expressing themselves or demanding their fundamental human rights.

The Tehran metro has become a focal point of hijab enforcement, with incidents such as the tragic death of a 16-year-old Iranian girl last year who was confronted by morality police for non-compliance with hijab regulations.

Armita Geravand, a teenage student, was assaulted by hijab enforcers in the metro, ultimately falling into a coma and passing away after 28 days in the hospital.

Amini’s death sparked widespread protests under the banner of “Women, Life, Freedom,” triggering a nationwide movement against compulsory hijab. However, authorities have responded with increased brutality, resorting to arbitrary arrests, sexual violence, and intensified surveillance in their efforts to quell dissent.

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