Canada PM says Israeli-US strikes on Iran 'inconsistent with international law'

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Sydney: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Wednesday that US-Israeli strikes on Iran appeared to be inconsistent with international law, calling for a rapid de-escalation of hostilities across the Middle East.

Speaking at the Lowy Institute in Sydney, Carney said that while Canada welcomed efforts to change what he described as Iran’s destabilising governance, the military action “would appear, prima facie, not to be consistent with international law.”

“It’s a judgement for others to make,” he said. “I’m not a lawyer, let alone an international legal expert.”

Carney’s remarks came during an official visit to Australia, part of a broader Asia-Pacific tour aimed at strengthening economic partnerships and reducing Canada’s reliance on the United States amid what he has described as a shifting global order.

The former central banker has frequently clashed with US President Donald Trump, who has previously threatened trade measures and made controversial remarks about Canada. In January, speaking at the World Economic Forum, Carney warned that the US-led system of global governance was undergoing “a rupture.” On Wednesday, he said the conflict in the Middle East represented “another example of the failure of the international order.”

“Canada calls for a rapid de-escalation of hostilities and is prepared to assist in achieving this goal,” he said, adding that “international law binds all belligerents.”

The strikes by the United States and Israel reportedly killed Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, days after diplomatic contacts in Geneva over Iran’s nuclear programme. Since then, Iran has launched retaliatory missile and drone attacks across the region, while Israel and the US have continued operations targeting sites in Tehran.

The conflict has also affected Lebanon, where Hezbollah launched rockets and drones toward Israel following Khamenei’s killing.

Although Carney has previously backed efforts to curb Iran’s nuclear programme and regional activities, he expressed regret that diplomatic efforts to disarm Tehran had failed. He also noted that the United States and Israel had acted “without engaging the United Nations or consulting with allies, including Canada.”

Carney is scheduled to meet Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Canberra on Thursday and address parliament, with talks expected to focus on economic security, critical minerals and defence cooperation.