Canada Backs US Strike on Iran

Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks at a press conference in Montreal on Feb. 17, 2026. The Canadian Press/Christinne Muschi

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney says the United States is right to take action to prevent the Iranian regime from obtaining nuclear weapons, and that Canada supports the move.

“Canada’s position remains clear: the Islamic Republic of Iran is the principal source of instability and terror throughout the Middle East, has one of the world’s worst human rights records, and must never be allowed to obtain or develop nuclear weapons,” Carney said in a statement on Feb. 28, hours after the United States and Israel jointly initiated strikes on Iran.

“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.”

U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the attack on Iran in the early hours of Feb. 28, saying they want to ensure the Iranian regime doesn’t obtain access to nuclear weapons. Iran in turn said it has launched attacks against Israel and U.S. bases in the region.

The military action came after multiple rounds of failed diplomatic discussions.

Trump said in his address that the people of Iran should topple the ruling regime after the military strikes.

“Iran is the world’s number one state-sponsor of terror, and just recently killed tens of thousands of its own citizens on the street as they protested,” Trump said.

“They’ve rejected every opportunity to renounce their nuclear ambitions, and we can’t take it anymore.”

Carney noted that Ottawa has listed the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist entity, and said Canada stands with the people of Iran. He added that Israel has the right to defend itself.

He said that all Canadians in Iran should shelter in place.

“The Canadian government urges the protection of all civilians in this conflict. We will take all possible measures to protect our nationals and Canadian diplomatic missions throughout the region,” Carney said.

Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre said his party supports the United States, Israel, and other countries in the region to “defend their sovereignty and dismantle the clerical military dictatorship of Iran.”

He added that his party also supports the people of Iran in toppling the regime.

“The regime in Tehran is the principal source of terror in the Middle East and around the world. It tried to build nuclear weapons to annihilate our allies. It massacred tens of thousands of its own people,” Poilievre said.

“It orchestrated the attacks of October 7, 2023, murdered Canadian passengers on Flight PS752, sought to kill prominent Canadian leaders, and ruthlessly targets Canadians of Jewish and Iranian descent. It has shown no good faith in negotiations to change course.”

The NDP criticized the strikes on Iran.

“Trump’s attack on Iran violates UN rules Canada has agreed to uphold. It contradicts numerous values PM Carney claimed he supported in Davos,” Interim Leader Don Davies said on social media. “Endorsing illegality, violence, & destruction over dialogue and peaceful resolution is not what Canadians were promised, or support.”

Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet said his party recognizes the “persistent threat posed by the Iranian regime,” but added that it’s concerned about the U.S. action without the “prior support of the U.S. Congress, the allies in Europe, Asia, and Canada.”