Canada is urging its citizens in Iran to shelter in place following strikes carried out early Saturday by the United States and Israel, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced.
The attacks, which Iranian media reported as hitting areas nationwide including near the offices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, prompted the Canadian government to issue the shelter-in-place advisory. “Canada is clear in its position that the Islamic Republic of Iran is the principal source of instability and terror throughout the Middle East,” a joint statement from Carney and Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand stated.
The statement, released Saturday, also affirmed Canada’s support for Israel’s right to defend itself and the United States’ actions aimed at preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and further threatening international security. Canada has consistently called for Iran to conclude its nuclear program, including at the 2025 G7 Leaders’ Summit in Kananaskis and through the United Nations’ reimposition of sanctions in September.
Despite diplomatic efforts, the Canadian government asserts that Iran has not fully dismantled its nuclear program, halted enrichment activities, or ceased support for regional terrorist groups. Canada has designated the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist entity and imposed sanctions on 256 Iranian entities and 222 individuals in response to the regime’s repression and violence, both domestically and internationally.
In a separate action, Canada is also relocating some diplomatic staff from Tel Aviv, according to sources. The move comes as a precautionary measure in response to the escalating tensions and the launch of strikes on Iran.
The Canadian government continues to urge the protection of all civilians in the conflict and says it will take measures to protect Canadian nationals and diplomatic missions in the region.
