Anita Anand dodges questions about UN secretary general’s criticism of Iran attack
3 views
Skip to first unread message
Sid Shniad
Mar 2, 2026, 6:19:24 PM (2 days ago) Mar 2
to
https://archive.li/1CUUD
Toronto Star March 2, 2026
Anita Anand dodges questions about UN secretary general’s criticism of Iran attack
Canada’s foreign minister repeatedly refused to say whether she agrees with the head of the United Nations, who condemned the U.S. and Israeli attacks.
Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand speaks with reporters in Mumbai, India on Feb. 28, 2026.
Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press
By Alex Ballingall
NEW DELHI — Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand is refusing to say whether Canada believes the American and Israeli strikes on Iran that sparked an escalated conflict in the Middle East are consistent with international law, after her government declared support for the action to prevent the Islamic theocracy from obtaining nuclear weapons.
Speaking to reporters instead of Prime Minister Mark Carney on Monday — the prime minister cancelled the only news conference of a four-day trip to India — Anand repeatedly refused to say whether she agrees with the head of the United Nations, who condemned the U.S. and Israeli attacks that killed Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
“We were not at the table at all in terms of the decision-making, and we will not be involved in any operation militarily in that region,” Anand said, after stating that Canada also did not receive advance warning of the attacks launched Saturday morning.
In conversations with counterparts from an array of Middle Eastern countries as the conflict continues, Anand said some nations believe that no diplomatic solution is possible, while others hope a negotiated peace isn’t entirely out of reach.
“There are several countries that want the same result,” she said. “But the question now is how can we do it, because it’s not easy.”
Over the weekend, UN Secretary General António Guterres condemned the strikes by Israel and the U.S., stating the attacks — along with the barrage of airstrikes Iran has launched in response — “undermine international peace and security.”
Since then, the conflict has spread. Three Americans were killed over the weekend, with U.S. President Donald Trump saying he expects more “will likely” die before the conflict is over. A suspected drone reportedly hit a United Kingdom military base in Cyprus, and more than 20 people were reported dead amid anti-American protests in Pakistan, where some Shia Muslims supported the Iranian regime.
The conflict broke out Saturday while Carney was travelling in India. He declared that Canada supports the U.S. attempt to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, after Iran-U.S. negotiations regarding Tehran’s nuclear program failed to produce an agreement. The prime minister also criticized Iran’s violations of human rights, and noted Canada’s shared stance with Israel, the U.S. and other countries that the regime is a leading state-sponsor of terrorism in the Middle East.
A readout of Carney’s meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said they discussed the conflict and “reiterated the imperative to protect all civilians and to focus all efforts towards de-escalation, security and stability in the region.”
Anand later condemned Iran’s response to the attacks, which saw it fire missiles and drones at countries in the region with U.S. military bases, including Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman and Kuwait.
Alex Ballingall is the Deputy Ottawa Bureau Chief for the Star. Reach him via email: aball...@thestar.ca
Toronto Star March 2, 2026
Anita Anand dodges questions about UN secretary general’s criticism of Iran attack
Canada’s foreign minister repeatedly refused to say whether she agrees with the head of the United Nations, who condemned the U.S. and Israeli attacks.
Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand speaks with reporters in Mumbai, India on Feb. 28, 2026.
Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press
By Alex Ballingall
Deputy Ottawa Bureau Chief
NEW DELHI — Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand is refusing to say whether Canada believes the American and Israeli strikes on Iran that sparked an escalated conflict in the Middle East are consistent with international law, after her government declared support for the action to prevent the Islamic theocracy from obtaining nuclear weapons.
Speaking to reporters instead of Prime Minister Mark Carney on Monday — the prime minister cancelled the only news conference of a four-day trip to India — Anand repeatedly refused to say whether she agrees with the head of the United Nations, who condemned the U.S. and Israeli attacks that killed Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
“We were not at the table at all in terms of the decision-making, and we will not be involved in any operation militarily in that region,” Anand said, after stating that Canada also did not receive advance warning of the attacks launched Saturday morning.
In conversations with counterparts from an array of Middle Eastern countries as the conflict continues, Anand said some nations believe that no diplomatic solution is possible, while others hope a negotiated peace isn’t entirely out of reach.
“There are several countries that want the same result,” she said. “But the question now is how can we do it, because it’s not easy.”
Over the weekend, UN Secretary General António Guterres condemned the strikes by Israel and the U.S., stating the attacks — along with the barrage of airstrikes Iran has launched in response — “undermine international peace and security.”
Since then, the conflict has spread. Three Americans were killed over the weekend, with U.S. President Donald Trump saying he expects more “will likely” die before the conflict is over. A suspected drone reportedly hit a United Kingdom military base in Cyprus, and more than 20 people were reported dead amid anti-American protests in Pakistan, where some Shia Muslims supported the Iranian regime.
The conflict broke out Saturday while Carney was travelling in India. He declared that Canada supports the U.S. attempt to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, after Iran-U.S. negotiations regarding Tehran’s nuclear program failed to produce an agreement. The prime minister also criticized Iran’s violations of human rights, and noted Canada’s shared stance with Israel, the U.S. and other countries that the regime is a leading state-sponsor of terrorism in the Middle East.
A readout of Carney’s meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said they discussed the conflict and “reiterated the imperative to protect all civilians and to focus all efforts towards de-escalation, security and stability in the region.”
Anand later condemned Iran’s response to the attacks, which saw it fire missiles and drones at countries in the region with U.S. military bases, including Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman and Kuwait.
Alex Ballingall is the Deputy Ottawa Bureau Chief for the Star. Reach him via email: aball...@thestar.ca
Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages