Canada’s national intelligence agency says the country’s threat level related to Iran and its potential proxies remains at a “medium” level, meaning a violent extremist attack is considered a realistic possibility but no specific imminent threat has been identified. Officials say the assessment has not changed since the conflict involving the United States and Israel against Iran began nearly two weeks ago.
The warning comes from the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, which says threat-related activities linked to Iran are expected to continue throughout 2026. According to the agency, the most likely scenario for a serious act of violence would involve a lone individual whose intentions are not known to authorities but who could become radicalized or inspired by events unfolding in the Middle East.
Security officials provided the update amid growing international tensions following joint airstrikes by the United States and Israel inside Iran that targeted military infrastructure and leadership. The conflict has raised concerns globally about possible retaliatory actions or influence operations carried out by Iranian-linked groups.
In Washington, Donald Trump recently said his administration is closely monitoring the possibility of Iranian sleeper agents operating within the United States. While Canadian officials have not confirmed similar networks domestically, intelligence agencies say they remain vigilant and continue to track potential threats connected to Iran or its allies.
Over the past year, Canadian intelligence services say they have disrupted several incidents involving suspected Iranian intelligence operations and proxy activities targeting individuals in Canada who were perceived as opponents of the Iranian government. In some cases, officials said these investigations uncovered potential threats that could have resulted in serious harm.
Last year, CSIS Director Daniel Rogers warned that the agency had been forced to shift resources to counter increasingly concerning activities linked to Iranian intelligence services. He noted that some cases involved efforts to intimidate or potentially harm individuals living in Canada who were viewed by the Iranian regime as adversaries.
Canada has had strained diplomatic relations with Iran for more than a decade. Diplomatic ties were severed in 2012 under the government of Stephen Harper due to Iran’s support for the Syrian government during the civil war and broader concerns about terrorism and regional instability. In June 2024, the federal government also formally designated the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist entity.
Security agencies say they will continue monitoring developments related to the conflict and remain focused on protecting Canadians as geopolitical tensions evolve.