Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand says Canada’s desire is to see the situation involving Iran de-escalate and to ensure the safety of Canadians in the region.

Anand spoke briefly with reporters soon after landing in Brussels ahead of the Canada-EU summit.

Anand calls the situation “very volatile” following U.S. attacks on three nuclear sites in Iran. She’s spoken with Iran’s foreign minister “where I emphasised the importance of the safety and security of Canadian citizens in the region. I also emphasised the importance of de-escalation as well as the importance of Flight PS-752.”

The Ukraine International Airlines flight, with 176 people on board including 55 Canadian citizens and 30 permanent residents, was shot down on January 8, 2020 just minutes after takeoff from Tehran.

Anand says increased consular support is being provided for Canadians seeking to leave the region “including at borders where Canadians are seeking to leave. We are also making sure that we have options for air travel, and ground transportation wherever possible. The most important for Canadians in the region is to register with Global Affairs Canada so that they will contact you directly with the options that we are arranging.”

Prime Minister speaks with U.S. President

Prime Minister Mark Carney’s conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump “focused on de-escalating the conflict in the Middle East” and the two countries’ commitment to a stronger NATO.

Iran’s nuclear programme is a grave threat to international security, and Canada has been consistently clear that Iran can never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon.

While U.S. military action taken last night was designed to alleviate that threat, the situation in the…

— Mark Carney (@MarkJCarney) June 22, 2025