The Iranian Foreign Ministry has charged this Monday against the Government of Canada, which it accuses of succumbing to the "submission to the intimidation" of the United States, after Ottawa's support for the campaign of pressure and sanctions against Tehran. The reaction comes after the Canadian Foreign Minister denounced what she described as "destabilizing activities," pointing to "threats to vessels attempting to transit through the Strait of Hormuz," the nuclear program of the Islamic Republic, and its support for "affiliated regional groups" in the Middle East.
"Precisely on the same day that the President of the United States (Donald Trump), in a flagrant disregard for the sovereignty and independence of Canada, described the entire country as part of the United States, the Foreign and Finance Ministers of Canada decided to continue yielding to their aggressive neighbor, this time addressing Iran with a statement that distorts all the facts about the situation in our region," stated the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Esmaeil Baqaei, on social media.
Emphasizing that Ottawa "perfectly knows that the Strait of Hormuz was open and safe before the United States launched its war of aggression against Iran on February 28," Baqaei criticized that the Canadian government "opts to support U.S. military aggression and economic terrorism instead of demanding an end to the aggression, blockade, and economic war of the United States."
Furthermore, the spokesman stressed that "Canada cannot credibly present itself as a defender of 'peace and security,' 'freedom of navigation,' and 'International Law' while simultaneously supporting U.S. military aggression and the illegal and interventionist actions of Washington in our region."
"This is neither diplomacy nor responsible diplomacy. It is a display of strategic confusion and submission to intimidation, a decision that will not even protect Canada from U.S. intimidation and aggression," he asserted.
The response from Tehran comes in light of the statement issued the day before by the Canadian Foreign Minister, Anita Anand, where she stated that "Canada condemns Iran and urges it to immediately cease its destabilizing activities in the Middle East."
"Iran's actions, including its ongoing threats to vessels attempting to transit through the Strait of Hormuz, its illicit nuclear activities program, and its support for affiliated regional groups, continue to undermine global peace and security," he stated.
The official text added that Ottawa "is working closely with its partners, including those in the G7, to maintain significant pressure on Iran," a coordination that, according to the minister, encompasses "the maintenance of sanctions against Iran, such as those announced under the 'Economic Marginalization' operation led by the United States," as well as "support for efforts led by the United States, France, and the United Kingdom to reopen the Strait of Hormuz."