New Delhi — Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand stresses the pursuit of a diplomatic solution amid Canada’s support for United States and Israel strikes on Iran that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Prime Minister Carney’s Travel and Position

Prime Minister Mark Carney departed India for Australia on Monday without addressing journalists, canceling a planned news conference. Officials confirm Carney remains unavailable upon arrival in Sydney due to prior personal commitments and preparations for upcoming business meetings and a speech to Australia’s parliament, followed by a trip to Japan.

Carney arrived in Sydney Tuesday afternoon local time, equivalent to Monday evening in Ottawa. Earlier, in Mumbai, Carney affirmed Canada’s backing of the strikes, citing Iran’s nuclear weapons program as a threat to international peace and security. He explicitly ruled out any combat involvement for Canada.

Anand Outlines Diplomatic Push

Anand, speaking after meetings in New Delhi, detailed recent discussions with counterparts in Middle Eastern and Gulf states, as well as G7 nations. She emphasized Canada’s commitment to a peaceful resolution, urging all parties to negotiate as soon as possible.

“Those conversations have yielded differing responses,” Anand noted. “Some countries believe that a diplomatic solution is not possible at this time. Others want to work as quickly as possible to ensure diplomacy becomes the next phase of this horrific situation.”

Canada maintains over 500 sanctions against Iran’s regime and continues to stand with the Iranian people. Anand did not address the strikes’ legality under international law but reiterated Canada’s non-involvement: “Canada wasn’t notified, and we do not have an intention to be involved in any military strikes or operation.”

Domestic Pushback

Liberal MP Will Greaves, representing Victoria, voiced opposition on Instagram. “Canada cannot endorse the unilateral and illegal use of military force, the killing of civilians, or the kidnap and assassination of foreign heads of government, while also insisting that our sovereignty, our rights, and our independence must be respected,” Greaves stated in a video. “All states have an obligation to protect civilian life, and no state has the right to wage aggressive war.”

Security Protocols During Travel

As strike reports emerged last weekend, security officials on Carney’s aircraft secured government telecommunications devices stored onboard while in India, a non-Five Eyes nation. This precaution followed strict information security guidelines for overseas travel.

The devices were relocated for potential emergency use. Officials apologized for inadvertently including press phones in the process.