WATCH: Poilievre says Canada's failure to deport IRGC 'thugs' putting Persians, Jews at risk

RICHMOND — Pierre Poilievre has accused the federal government of not doing enough to kick Iranian regime "thugs" out of Canada and prevent more from entering.

He warned the inaction puts everyone at risk — particularly members of the Persian and Jewish communities.

"The regime in Iran is a threat to Canada," Poilievre said during a press conference on Sunday in response to a question from Sitka Media. "There are 700 agents of the [Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps] willingly operating on Canadian soil threatening our people. We've had a professor from SFU go missing and be found dead after facing months of threats, the Persian community says that they have had constant threats and harassment by regime thugs."

He added that, according to American court documents, the regime has been linked to shootings at the US consulate in Toronto and a synagogue.

"Those are just the ones we know about," Poilievre warned. "It is time for us to identify the willing agents of the IRGC who are operating on Canadian soil and kick them out of our country, to stop regime agents who are willingly part of this terrorist enterprise from getting into our country."

The Conservative leader said he and his team "stand on the side of Canadians of all backgrounds — but particularly Jews and Persians who are being targeted relentlessly on Canadian soil because of this Liberal government's absolute failure to protect our security and defend our borders."

Anti-Islamic Republic regime protests have taken place in Vancouver every week since the beginning of the year, drawing attention to the plight of the Iranian people.

Throughout the ensuing war between Iran and Israel and the United States, counterprotestors took to the streets. While many were simply opposed to the conflict, many openly and explicitly stood on the side of the regime, holding the flag and photos of eliminated supreme leader Ali Khamenei.

Such a protest took place on Saturday, with regime flag-waving attendees chanting "Iran will never fall" as they marched down Burrard Street. For them, Israel and the United States were the enemy.

During the aforementioned press conference, Sitka Media asked Poilievre what he thought of the idea that "one man's terrorist is another's freedom fighter," and how the government should balance protecting free speech with the need to combat the promotion of terrorism.

"What is a terrorist organization?" Poilievre replied. "We have a legal definition. It's an organization that's listed under the anti-terrorism law as a banned terrorist entity — and that is based on advice from CSIS and other law enforcement."

He cited Hezbollah and the IRGC as examples.

"One can have differing opinions about other foreign governments," Poilievre added, alluding to the protestors, "but that does not make foreign governments you don’t like to be considered terrorists.”