China and Russia are seen as the worst offenders when it comes to cyber attacks, but Iran is close behind. How is it that a country such as Iran has a cyber-warfare unit with a staff of 2,400 and a budget of $76 million, and Ottawa has only allocated $95 million for our country's defence against this new form of attack?

It is not unreasonable for Canadians to demand more stringent security checks to ensure that people seeking to enter the country do not have nefarious intentions. The Economist reported recently that Iran might be constructing its nuclear facilities with ultra-high performance concrete. The article also mentioned that a graduate of Tehran University is currently studying the molecular structure of cement at the University of Ottawa.

This Iranian assassination plot is a major escalation in Tehran's war on America. Because Iran has never faced serious consequences for its hostility, it is now willing to run a lethal operation on American soil. The operation was likely authorized at the highest levels of the Iranian government.

The U.S. and EU pass travel bans to great fanfare, yet ignore them completely when sanctioned officials travel to meetings of international organizations. As Congressman Ted Deutch (D-FL) wrote, these measures are meaningless if loopholes allow sanctioned Iranian officials to travel freely.