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 Middle East remains highly volatile. Stability in the region is a priority.
Canada calls on parties to return immediately to the negotiating table and reach a diplomatic solution to end this crisis. As G7 leaders agreed in Kananaskis, the resolution of the Iranian crisis should lead to a broader de-escalation of hostilities in the Middle East, including a ceasefire in Gaza.
(With apologies for the Twitter link, this post doesn’t seem to have been copied over to Bluesky.)
Why?
Why is Iran’s nuclear programme such a grave threat? A grave threat, as opposed to… What exactly?
What makes China, Pakistan, Russia, India, or North Korea less of a threat?
To take the other side (not sure I agree):
Iran is unique in that it is run by a government that claims to be Islamic fundamentalists. This could make mutually assured destruction less effective if the ones launching the nukes truly believe that if they die in the retaliation they will go to heaven with their 72 virgins.
I’m not convinced that the Ayatollah is ok dying in the name of killing infidels, but I do see the merits of this argument.
Well, Iran is the largest state sponsor of terrosit groups, arming and financing many in region to attack neighbours. You don’t see China arming terrorists in Mongolia or Vietnam to overthrow their governments, for starters. Then there is the bit where their official policy is basically to end the state of Israel. And there’s the fact that they have used terror themselves, kidnapping and extorsion to directly confront the west before, kidnap US citizens and fought wars against the western countries and allies. And both their official internal and external policies and policy goals are frankly terrifying.
As opposed to Israel’s actual genocide.
So… They’re basically the same as the US and Russia?
Nah, China just does oppression and genocide inside their borders. Oh and taking hostages as well.
That’s the point. From an international relations standpoint there’s no major issue with China where humans rights violations are concerned. Since the don’t arm groups outside their borders, there doesn’t need to be an international response for that because there’s no international threat. The tensions with China are mostly with respect to Taiwan and trade.
Wasn’t there a country operating ‘police stations’ all over Canada? Which country was that?
So taking hostages isn’t an international issue?