Carney reaffirms Canada’s support for strikes on Iran ‘with regret’

Carney said in Australia that the growing Middle East conflict 'is another example of the failure of the international order' and that Canada's support 'is not a blank cheque.'

Prime Minister Mark Carney on Tuesday reaffirmed Canada’s support for U.S. and Israeli efforts to eliminate Iran’s nuclear and terrorist threats, but added it was a position taken “with regret” and suggested the decision to attack Iran was “inconsistent with international law.”

Speaking to reporters in Canberra, Australia, during his three-country international trip, Carney said the growing Middle East conflict “is another example of the failure of the international order” that he warned about in his widely-watched speech in Davos in January.

“We support efforts to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and to prevent its regime from further threatening international peace and security,” he said. “Because Canada is taking the world as it is, not passively waiting for a world we wish to be.

“We do, however, take this position with regret because the current conflict is another example of the failure of the international order,” Carney continued.

He particularly noted the failure of the U.S. and Israel to engage with the United Nations or allies “including Canada” before attacking Iran on Saturday.

“We were not informed in advance. We were not asked to participate. Prima facia, it appears that these actions are inconsistent with international law,” he said.

“We took a position because we view the nuclear threat and the export of terrorism of Iran over decades as one of the greatest threats to international peace and security. … In that limited sense, we supported that aspect.

“That is not a blank cheque,” Carney continued. “That is not us participating, that is not us asking for something in exchange for that — none of that is true. That is just a straight-up position.”