Canada Backs United States Actions In Iran

Prime Minister Mark Carney said Saturday that Canada supports the United States acting to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, calling the country “the principal source of instability and terror throughout the Middle East” and citing its human rights record.

Speaking in Mumbai, where he is leading a trade delegation, Carney urged Canadians in Iran to shelter in place.

“Canada supports the United States acting to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and to prevent its regime from further threatening international peace and security,” he said.

Carney added he did not see Canada getting involved in the escalation: “We have not been party to the military buildup to this, or the military planning of this. So it is not envisioned that we would be part of it moving forward.”

He said Canada has consistently called on the Iranian regime to end its nuclear program — including at the G7 Summit Ottawa hosted last summer in Kananaskis, Alberta — and noted that Canada has listed the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist group.

“Despite numerous diplomatic efforts, Iran has neither fully dismantled its nuclear program, halted all enrichment activities, nor ended its support for regional terrorist proxy groups,” Carney said.

The prime minister expressed Canada’s support for the Iranian people, and also backed Israel's role in the strikes: “And we reaffirm Israel’s right to defend itself.”

Before the first strikes, Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand urged Canadians in Israel, Palestine and Lebanon to consider leaving while commercial options exist.

She cautioned Canadians in Iran that Canada’s ability to assist — “especially during an active conflict” — will be “extremely limited” because Canada does not have a diplomatic presence in the country.