It's a matter of backlog. Many of my Lebanese friends got their citizenship in less than 8 months before the backlog started building up. Now, most applicants in GTA, especially Mississauga, are suffering from delays. All my Mississauga friends who applied in Feb and March last year, including myself, haven't received any test invite yet.
I am not sure about blocking . At least 10 of my friends and many of iranian who I know that applied months after me they got there passport . I dont know what is the problem . And what the reason of the delay.
It seems iranian applications can be all over the processing time spectrum! I have had few friends that they took the oath around 9 months from AOR.
I have friends that are waiting 10 months after the test.
I myself applied in April 2018, took tge test in Oct 2018, officer at exam date told me i will have to sit tight for the security check to complete and it will be a while. Since then
The link is very simple! Canada has decided to impose sanctions against Iran to protect their own citizens against terrorism. That means Iran for the Canadian government is in the list of countries that need special care! If you are Iranian and you even want to transfer funds from Iran you need solid proofs that the incoming money is clean otherwise it will be blocked right away by the Canadian banking system! Similarly, any Iranian who wants to become a PR or citizen will be monitored with a special care through security screening therefore delaying the applications! It is not even something we can fight against here in Canada as this prolonged security screening process is a matter of public security from the Federal Government of Canada's perspective.