Carney says Canada supports U.S. Iran attacks, but doesn't envision combat role
MUMBAI, INDIA AND OTTAWA — As the United States and Israel launched a major assault on Iran, Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Saturday that Canada supports the attempt to stop Iran obtaining a nuclear weapon and urged Canadians in the country to shelter in place.
“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, and the Canadian government urges the protection of all civilians in this conflict,” said Carney, before a scheduled speech on Saturday in Mumbai, India.
The government said in a statement that Iran hasn’t dismantled its nuclear program or halted enrichment activities, despite diplomatic efforts to convince the regime to do. It also said Iran has continued to support “regional terrorist proxy groups.”
During a question-and-answer session after his speech, Carney described the situation as a “serious escalation” and a conflict with consequences that “will be determined by whether Iran de-escalates.”
The prime minister also said that Canada wasn’t “party to the military build-up” and doesn’t envision any combat role for Canadian forces.
U.S. President Donald Trump posted a video on social media on Saturday morning calling for regime change in the country and directly encouraging Iranians to topple their government.
“When we are finished, take over your government. It’s yours to take. This will be, probably, your only chance for generations,” said Trump, in a video that features him standing at a lectern with an American flag behind him and wearing a ball cap with “USA” on the front.
“It has always been the policy of the United States, in particular my administration, that this terrorist regime can never have a nuclear weapon. I’ll say it again: they can never have a nuclear weapon,” said Trump.
In Mumbai, Carney didn’t call for regime change, but said “Canada stands with the Iranian people in their long and courageous struggle against this oppressive regime and we reaffirm Israel’s right to defend itself.”
In a social media post , Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said his party supports “the courageous people of Iran in toppling this terror regime.”
The United Kingdom government confirmed it had no role in the attacks, while France warned of “serious consequences” for international peace and security following the attacks and called for an emergency meeting of the United Nations security council, according to Reuters .
Thomas Juneau, a professor at the University of Ottawa’s Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, said he expected U.S. allies to cautiously support the attack on Iran while they manage thorny trades relationship with the Trump administration.
“All of them will take positions primarily based on the management of their difficult relations with Trump — much more than based on Iran. This is the calculus that matters,” he wrote, on social media on Saturday morning .
The Canadian statement said the government is closely following the hostilities and recommended that Canadians in the Middle East “follow local advice and take all necessary precautions.”
Carney is in Mumbai on a trade mission and delivered a speech on Saturday regarding the Canada-India business relationship.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 28, 2026
More to come.
National Post
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