OTTAWA – The Canadian government has issued a stark warning to its citizens in the Middle East, urging those in Iran to shelter in place as it closely monitors escalating hostilities linked to Tehran.
Canada Issues Urgent Warning Amid Heightened Iran Tensions
In a statement released Saturday, Ottawa reiterated its hardline stance against the Islamic Republic, branding it the “principal source of instability and terror throughout the Middle East” and vowing to take all possible measures to protect its nationals and diplomatic missions in the region.
The government advised all Canadians in Iran to shelter in place immediately. For those elsewhere in the region, officials urged them to follow local advice and take all necessary precautions.
This comes amid a volatile security landscape, with the statement explicitly reaffirming Canada’s support for both Israel and the United States. “Canada reaffirms Israel’s right to defend itself and to ensure the security of its people,” the release stated, adding that the nation “supports the United States acting to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.”
Canada has framed the current crisis as the result of a persistent pattern of Iranian aggression. The government pointed to its decades-long diplomatic efforts, including discussions at the 2025 G7 Leaders’ Summit in Kananaskis and support for United Nations sanctions reimposed in September 2024.
However, the statement expressed frustration that “despite diplomatic efforts, Iran has neither fully dismantled its nuclear program, halted all enrichment activities, nor ended its support for regional terrorist proxy groups.”
To combat what it describes as an oppressive regime, Canada has enacted sweeping sanctions, targeting 256 Iranian entities and 222 individuals. Notably, the government also highlighted its designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist entity.
“We stand with the Iranian people in their long and courageous struggle against Iran’s oppressive regime,” the statement read, citing what it called “one of the world’s worst human rights records.”
As the situation develops, the Canadian government says it is committed to the protection of all civilians in the conflict and is actively working to secure the safety of its nationals across the region.
