Dion says Iran sanctions not good for Bombardier

OTTAWA — Maintaining sanctions on Iran will only hurt Canadian companies such as Montreal-based airplane manufacturer Bombardier, says Foreign Affairs Minister Stephen Dion. Dion said Tuesday that Canada will lift a series of sanctions on Iran following that country’s historic nuclear deal with six major western powers earlier this month, but will maintain others. That’s the same approach followed by Canada’s allies, including the United States and the European Union. Iran is anxious to do business with the West, as its president tours Europe signing deals and looking for new ones. That includes buying aircraft and Iran says it has reached a deal with the French consortium Airbus to buy jets. “If Airbus is able to do it, why Bombardier would not be able to do it?” Dion said. “In which way it’s helping Canada or the Iranian people or Israel or anyone that Canada is hurting its own industry?”