OTTAWA — Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said Thursday Canada is not open to re-establishing diplomatic ties with Iran at this time, and pushed back on senators who claim Canada has abandoned its human rights focus in its pursuit of investment from Gulf nations.

“Our values are our North Star. They are our source of strength,” Anand told the Senate’s foreign affairs committee Thursday.

Sen. Peter Harder asked Anand whether Ottawa would revise a decision the Harper government made in 2012 to cut diplomatic ties with Iran.

“It was unfortunate that we withdrew from Iran. It was one of the areas where the Five Eyes welcomed Canada’s participation,” said Harder, referring to the intelligence alliance that includes Washington and London.

Anand responded in French that Canada’s focus wit

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