Relations betweenIranandCanada, already at a low point after Canada severed diplomatic ties in September, worsened Monday as Iran denounced a Canadian court ruling that froze Iranian government assets in Canada. The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Ramin Mehmanparast, said Iran held Canadas government responsible for the court order, issued last week, which applied to Irans embassy in Ottawa, two former cultural centers and a diplomatic residence. Irans official Islamic Republic News Agency quoted Mr. Mehmanparast as saying the political motivations behind such a move are not hidden to anybody. The Ontario Superior Court of Justice temporarily froze the assets in response to a request filed by the family of an American, Marla Bennett, who was killed in a Jerusalem bombing 11 years ago that was said to be the work of Hamas, the militantPalestiniangroup supported by Iran. The Bennett family won a default judgment against Iran for $12.9 million in an American court but was unable to collect; they are now trying to enforce it with Iranian assets in Canada. It is unclear whether the court will allow the family to seize the properties.
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