Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand stated that Ottawa will not resume diplomatic relations with Iran unless there is a change of government, and she would not confirm whether Canada would back a potential U.S. military strike.
Speaking to the Globe and Mail in Germany while attending the Munich Security Conference, Anand was explicit about Canada’s position: "We will not open diplomatic relationships with Iran unless there is a regime change. Period," she told the newspaper. The minister’s remarks underscore a firm stance on Iran at a time of heightened international attention.
Canada has had strained ties with Iran for some years and formally severed diplomatic relations in 2012. On Saturday, Anand announced further sanctions aimed at seven individuals described as connected to the Iranian government. She said Canada’s principal concern in the region is the repression of human rights.
At the same time, two U.S. officials said the U.S. military is preparing for the possibility of sustained, weeks-long operations against Iran if President Donald Trump orders an attack. Officials described preparations for what could unfold as a more extensive conflict than recent exchanges between the two countries.
On Friday, President Trump signaled support for potential government change in Iran while the Pentagon dispatched a second aircraft carrier to the region. The sequential diplomatic and military developments highlight parallel actions by allied and U.S. policy actors amid escalating tensions.
This report focuses on statements and announced measures: Ottawa’s clear linkage between diplomatic normalization and regime change, the imposition of targeted sanctions on seven named individuals, Anand’s stated emphasis on human rights repression in the region, and U.S. military preparations for possible prolonged operations should an order be issued.
Details provided are limited to the comments made by the Canadian foreign minister, the sanctions announcement, and the account from two U.S. officials regarding military posture and the movement of U.S. naval assets. No additional claims or outcomes are asserted beyond these reported statements and actions.