Israel’s Minister of Strategic Affairs was in Ottawa earlier this week to enlist Canada’s support in persuading the world to keep up pressure on Iran to end its pursuit of nuclear weapons.

Yuval Steinitz was expected to meet with Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird on Monday as The CJN went to press.

In an interview with the Globe and Mail published Oct. 20, Steinitz said it would be unwise to ease the pressure on Iran.

“Canada is very influential and can exercise its influence elsewhere – in Europe, in China, in America, in Russia, and elsewhere. It’s very important. And I know that the Canadian government is already doing so,” he told the newspaper.

Steinitz was expected to fly to Washington Tuesday to be briefed regarding the West’s negotiations with Iran.