Prime minister says Canada will not join military action but supports efforts to block Iran’s nuclear ambitions
Prime Minister Mark Carney says Canada supports the United States and Israel following a major wave of airstrikes on Iran, as U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that Iran’s Supreme Leader has been killed.
Speaking in Mumbai on Saturday during his trade mission to India, Carney described the situation as a serious escalation but said Canada does not expect to participate militarily.
“Canada supports the United States acting to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon,” Carney said, adding that Canada also supports Israel’s right to defend itself against threats from Iran.
Trump confirmed on social media that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, is dead. Israeli officials later indicated they believed the reports to be accurate. Iranian authorities had not immediately confirmed the claim.
The airstrikes mark a dramatic intensification of conflict in the region. Trump described the assault as a “major combat operation,” vowing to dismantle Iran’s missile capabilities and naval forces. Iranian state media reported significant casualties from strikes across the country, with hundreds killed or injured, including civilians.
Iran responded with retaliatory missile and drone attacks targeting U.S. military bases in Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, as well as military targets in Israel. Regional airspace closures and flight suspensions followed across parts of the Middle East.
Carney said Canadian officials had anticipated a possible escalation in recent weeks as U.S. military assets moved into the region and pressure mounted on Iran over its uranium enrichment program. He placed responsibility for de-escalation on Tehran.
“The threat of military action should have been clear to an Iranian regime that has refused to dismantle fully its nuclear program and continues to pose a serious threat to the region,” Carney said, calling Iran the “principal source of instability and terror” in the Middle East.
Canada has long opposed Iran’s nuclear ambitions and in 2024 formally listed the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist entity. Carney also referenced Iran’s human rights record, describing it as among the worst globally.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre echoed Carney’s stance, expressing support for the United States and Israel and calling for a democratic and permanently denuclearized Iran. He also referenced the 2020 downing of Flight PS752, which killed 176 people, including 55 Canadian citizens and 30 permanent residents.
Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand, speaking shortly before the strikes, reiterated Canada’s preference for a negotiated solution to tensions surrounding Iran’s nuclear program. She emphasized Canada’s commitment to international law and human rights and urged Canadians in Israel, Palestine and Lebanon to consider leaving while commercial travel options remain available.
Meanwhile, Reza Pahlavi — son of Iran’s last shah — described the attacks as a potential turning point and called on Iranians to reclaim their country from the Islamic regime that took power in 1979.
European leaders have urged restraint from all sides to prevent further escalation, with some questioning the legality of the strikes. Carney, however, framed Canada’s position as consistent with its longstanding opposition to Iran’s nuclear program and regional activities.
As conflicting reports emerge about the fate of Iran’s top leadership and regional tensions intensify, the situation remains fluid. For Canada, the immediate priority appears to be supporting its allies diplomatically while avoiding direct military involvement — even as the broader geopolitical implications continue to unfold.