Canada’s prime minister Mark Carney has questioned the legality of recent US and Israeli strikes on Iran, describing the escalating conflict as “another example of the failure of the international order”.
Carney made the remarks during a speech at the Lowy Institute in Sydney, where he is visiting as part of a trade and diplomatic mission aimed at strengthening cooperation among so-called middle powers.
The Canadian leader said his government supports efforts by the United States to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, but argued that the latest military action raised serious legal and diplomatic concerns.
“Canada supports the United States acting to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon,” Carney said.
He described the Iranian government led by Ali Khamenei as a major driver of instability in the region, citing long-standing accusations that Tehran and its proxies had caused widespread suffering across the Middle East.
However, Carney said the decision by the United States and Israel to conduct strikes without broader international consultation undermined established global governance structures.
“The current conflict is another example of the failure of the international order,” he said.
Carney noted that international efforts to constrain Iran’s nuclear program had spanned decades and involved a range of diplomatic and legal mechanisms.
These included United Nations Security Council resolutions, monitoring by the International Atomic Energy Agency, and multiple rounds of sanctions and negotiations aimed at limiting Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
Despite those measures, he said, the nuclear dispute had remained unresolved, contributing to the current escalation.
Carney also said Canada had not been consulted ahead of the strikes.
“The action that was taken, we weren’t consulted on it. There was not a broader process for it,” he said.
He suggested the attacks may not meet the legal standards required under international law.
“It would appear, prima facie, to be inconsistent with international law.”
The prime minister warned that the rapidly expanding conflict was increasing risks to civilians throughout the Middle East and raising difficult questions about how the international community should respond.
“The question is: where to from here?” he said.
“Given we have a rapidly spreading conflict and growing threats to civilian life across the region, Canada reaffirms that international law binds all belligerents.”
Carney’s comments highlight growing debate among Western allies about the legal basis and strategic consequences of military action against Iran, particularly as tensions in the region continue to escalate.
