Canada's Prime Minister Expresses Conditional Support for US-Israeli Strikes on Iran Amid International Law Concerns
Prime Minister Mark Carney supports the recent US-Israeli strikes on Iran, citing Iran's nuclear ambitions, but expresses regret over the failure of international diplomacy and concerns about adherence to international law.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has expressed conditional support for the recent United States and Israeli military strikes on Iran, emphasizing the necessity to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Speaking in Sydney during his Indo-Pacific tour, Carney stated that Canada has long viewed Iran as a principal source of instability and terror in the Middle East.
However, Carney conveyed regret over the failure of international diplomatic efforts to address Iran's nuclear program, noting that despite more than two decades of negotiations, Iran has not dismantled its nuclear program nor halted its enrichment activities.
Addressing concerns about the legality of the strikes, Carney remarked that the actions appear, prima facie, to be inconsistent with international law, adding that the United States and Israel acted without engaging the United Nations or consulting with allies, including Canada.
In response to the escalating conflict, Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand announced the deployment of surge consular support to assist Canadians in the region, including in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Israel, Jordan, Turkmenistan, and Türkiye. Anand urged all parties to prioritize the protection of civilians and to return to negotiations for a diplomatic resolution to the crisis.