Carney Reverses Longstanding Policy on Iran
Prime Minister Mark Carney's support for restoring diplomatic relations with Iran marks a stark reversal of a 14-year policy upheld by both the Stephen Harper and Justin Trudeau governments. The proposal has drawn sharp criticism, with an editorial calling it a 'terrible idea' that would undermine Canada's stance against the Iranian regime.
Government's Own Position Contradicted
The move also contradicts the position of Carney's own government. In February, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand told the Globe and Mail that Canada would not open diplomatic relationships with Iran 'unless there is a regime change. Period.' This statement came as Iran was murdering, torturing, and imprisoning tens of thousands of its own citizens.
Carney now argues that restoring ties is necessary to help Canadians living in Iran who run afoul of the Islamic state's dictators. He linked his argument to Canada's foreign aid package for Venezuela, another country without diplomatic relations, saying, 'Engagement is not endorsement. Having an embassy, having consular services in a country does not mean we endorse the policies of that country.'
Iran's Support for Terrorism
Critics contend that reopening Canada's embassy in Tehran—closed in 2012 after Canada declared Iran a state sponsor of terrorism—would hand the regime a huge propaganda victory. Iran funds, trains, and supports more than a dozen terrorist groups, including Hamas, Hezbollah, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, all designated as terrorist entities by Canada.
On January 8, 2020, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), also designated a terrorist organization by Canada, shot down a Ukrainian civilian airliner shortly after takeoff from Tehran airport, killing all 176 people on board, including 55 Canadians and 30 permanent residents of Canada.
Transnational Repression and Death Threats
Canada's own government has stated that Iranian intelligence services engage in transnational repression of Canadian citizens of Iranian origin, including monitoring, harassing, and intimidating opponents of the regime. CSIS has identified credible death threats by Iran against Canadians, including a failed attempt to assassinate former Canadian justice minister Irwin Cotler, who required 24/7 RCMP protection.
In 2023, an investigation by Global News reported that hundreds of operatives of the Iranian government were living in Canada. Yet as of March this year, the Canadian government had deported only one Iranian official out of 24 identified as members of the terrorist IRGC.
Editorial Condemns Dangerous Flip-Flop
The editorial concludes that Carney's proposal is dangerous and would harm Canada's reputation. It warns that restoring diplomatic ties would be a propaganda victory for the Iranian regime and would undermine efforts to hold Iran accountable for its human rights abuses and support for terrorism.
