Canada has expressed support for the recent U.S.- and Israeli-led military strikes on Iran while simultaneously urging a diplomatic solution to prevent further escalation in the Middle East.
Canadian Defence Minister David McGuinty said the late Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had long been a destabilizing influence in the region. Speaking to reporters during a visit to Australia on March 3, McGuinty described Khamenei as a powerful figure who spread harmful influence both within Iran and across the Middle East.
Khamenei and several senior Iranian officials were reportedly killed over the weekend following a major bombing campaign launched by the United States and Israel. The strikes were part of a broader effort aimed at curbing Iran’s nuclear ambitions and weakening its network of allied militant groups.
McGuinty noted that the Iranian government has supported several regional proxy organizations, including Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza, the Houthi movement in Yemen, and various Shiite militias operating in Iraq. According to the minister, these groups have contributed to ongoing instability across the region.
Prime Minister Mark Carney had earlier voiced support for the U.S. operation. In a statement issued on February 28 along with Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand, the Canadian government said it supported efforts to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and from threatening international security.
The statement also described Iran as a major source of instability in the Middle East and criticized the government in Tehran for human rights abuses, including violent crackdowns on domestic protests.
However, the tone from Ottawa shifted slightly in the days following the attack. On March 2, Anand urged all sides to return to negotiations and pursue a diplomatic solution. She also condemned Iran’s retaliatory missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and several Gulf states hosting U.S. military facilities, calling the strikes an “unacceptable escalation.”
Anand revealed that Canada had not been informed in advance about the joint U.S.-Israeli military operation. While speaking with reporters during a visit to India, she emphasized that Ottawa prefers diplomatic engagement to resolve the crisis and has been consulting with partners in the Middle East and members of the G7.
“Some governments believe diplomacy is not possible at this moment, while others are pushing to ensure talks begin as soon as possible,” Anand said.
The Canadian government’s response has sparked debate within the ruling Liberal Party and among opposition politicians.
Liberal Member of Parliament Will Greaves, elected in 2025, publicly criticized the government’s support for the military action. In a video posted on social media, Greaves acknowledged Iran’s human rights abuses but warned against endorsing unilateral military force or actions that could harm civilians.
Former Liberal cabinet minister Lloyd Axworthy also condemned the strikes, describing the U.S. strategy as unlawful and questioning Canada’s decision to support it.
Responding to the criticism, McGuinty said differing views within the Liberal Party reflect a broad range of perspectives.
Opposition parties have also challenged the government’s messaging. Conservative deputy leader Melissa Lantsman accused the government of delivering inconsistent statements on the crisis, while Conservative MP Roman Baber argued that the government’s position on the conflict has been unclear.
Despite its political backing of the operation, Canada has stressed that its armed forces were not involved in planning or executing the strikes.
McGuinty confirmed that Canadian troops stationed in the Middle East remain safe. Canadian personnel are deployed in several missions in the region, including operations focused on counterterrorism and training local security forces.
The broader conflict has already spread beyond Iran and Israel. Several Gulf countries including Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates have reported drone or missile strikes targeting infrastructure and energy facilities.
In Kuwait, six U.S. service members were killed when a tactical operations centre was struck during Iran’s retaliation campaign. Kuwaiti authorities also reported intercepting hundreds of missiles and drones launched from Iran.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important shipping routes for oil. The move could threaten roughly one-fifth of global oil exports and has already led to several maritime incidents reported by the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy.
In a separate development, U.S. President Donald Trump said he would suspend trade with Spain after the country refused to allow American forces to use its military bases for operations related to the conflict.
Amid the escalating tensions, Canadian officials say they are monitoring the situation closely. Global Affairs Canada confirmed it is not aware of any Canadian casualties linked to the hostilities.
However, the department noted a sharp increase in the number of Canadians registering their presence in the region, with nearly 97,000 citizens currently listed.
Canada has also issued travel warnings advising citizens to avoid travel to several Middle Eastern countries, including Iran, Iraq, Israel, Kuwait, Lebanon, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen. Additional consular resources have been deployed to neighbouring countries to assist Canadians who may require support as the crisis continues to unfold.
