Carney calls for a downgrade after U.S. strike against Iran, “diplomatic solution” – state
Prime Minister Mark Carney called for demotion of hostilities in the Middle East and asked the parties to “return to the negotiating table immediately” after Saturday's U.S. air strikes.
“Iran's nuclear program is a serious threat to international security, and Canada has been making it clear that Iran will never be able to develop nuclear weapons,” he wrote in a statement shared with X Sunday morning. “While the U.S. military action taken last night was intended to mitigate this threat, the situation in the Middle East remains highly volatile. Stability in the region is a priority.”
“As G7 leaders agreed in Kananaskis, the resolution of the Iran crisis should lead to wider hostilities, including in the Middle East, including in the ceasefire in Gaza,” he continued to add that Canada called on the parties to return to the negotiating table immediately and reach the negotiating table to end the crisis. ”
After Carney shared his statement, Foreign Minister Anita Anand shared a urging Canadians to register with Canadian global affairs in the Middle East “to receive information from specific countries, including available travel options.”
Anand wrote that the Canadian government “continues to support all efforts aimed at downgrade, protecting civilian lives and restoring stability through diplomacy. We urge the parties to return to the negotiating table and resolve the crisis.
She added: “The Prime Minister and I regularly briefed me on new developments and ensured that all the necessary resources support Canada’s efforts to protect our citizens.”
Several closed U.S. allies also pointed to the threat posed by Tehran's nuclear program but urged to return to the negotiating table after the strike, which sparked concerns about the wider conflict. Some countries and groups in the Middle East, including those supporting Iran, condemned the move and urged a downgrade.
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U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he would decide within two weeks whether to participate in the Israeli war with Tehran. Finally, it only took a few days. Earlier Sunday, Washington attacked three Iranian nuclear sites.
This satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows damage to Iran's Fordo Enrichment facility after a U.S. strike on Sunday, June 22, 2025.
Maxar technology through AP
While the losses caused are still unclear, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the United States “crossed a very large red line.” He also said that diplomacy is over and Iran has the right to defend itself.
Some question whether the weak Iran will surrender or remain rebellious and begin strikes with allies of the U.S. targets scattered throughout the Gulf.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was “seriously shocked” by the use of force in the United States.
“The risk of this conflict could quickly get out of control – with disastrous consequences for civilians, regions and the world,” he said in a statement on social media platform X.
“There is no military solution. The only way forward is diplomacy.”
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called on Iran to return to the negotiating table to end the crisis diplomatically, saying stability is a priority for volatile regions.
The UK, along with the EU, France and Germany, had a diplomatic settlement with Iran in Geneva last week.
Stemmer said Iran's nuclear program poses a serious threat to global security.
“Iran can never be allowed to develop nuclear weapons, and the United States has taken action to mitigate the threat,” Stamer said.
Dmitry Medvedev, who served as deputy director of the Security Council of President Vladimir Putin, said several countries were ready to provide nuclear weapons to Tehran.
He did not specify which countries, but said the U.S. attacks caused minimal damage and would not stop Tehran from pursuing nuclear weapons.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said it was “strongly condemning” the air strikes and called it “a serious violation of international law, the UN Charter and the resolution of the UN Security Council.”
The Iraqi government condemned the U.S. strike, saying military escalation posed a serious threat to peace and security in the Middle East. It said this poses serious risks to regional stability and calls for diplomatic efforts to reduce the crisis.
“The continued attacks could have a dangerous escalation, with consequences beyond the borders of any state and threatening the security of the entire region and the world,” government spokesman Bassem al-Awadi said in a statement.
Pope Leo 14
In Rome, Pope Leo XIV made a strong appeal to peace in a prayer of Angelus in St. Peter's Square on Sunday, calling for “weapons of silence” for international diplomacy.
After publicly referring to the “shocking” situation in Iran, the first Pontief stressed: “Today, humanity is weeping more than ever and invoking peace, a cry that demands rationality and has to be strangled.”
Pope Leo urges every member of the international community to assume moral responsibility to “stop the tragedy of war before it becomes an irreparable abyss”.
– Documents with the Associated Press
& Copy 2025 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
