Iran\u2019s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei has strongly condemned a joint statement by Canada\u2019s foreign and finance ministers, describing it as a distortion of facts, an act of appeasement towards Washington and a display of strategic confusion that aligns Ottawa with what Iranian authorities describe as US military aggression and economic warfare against the Islamic Republic. <\/p>\n
\u201cOn the very day the U.S. president, in blatant contempt for Canada\u2019s sovereignty and independence, portrayed the entire country as part of the United States, Canada\u2019s foreign and finance ministers chose to further appease their bullying neighbor\u2014this time by targeting Iran with a statement that distorts every fact about the situation in our region,\u201d Baghaei said in a post on X on Monday, Press TV<\/a> reports.<\/p>\n He emphasised that Ottawa is fully aware of the facts on the ground.<\/p>\n \u201cCanada knows full well that the Strait of Hormuz was open and secure before USrael launched a war of aggression against Iran on 28 February.\u201d<\/p>\n Baghaei rejected Canada\u2019s portrayal of itself as a defender of international norms.<\/p>\n \u201cCanada cannot credibly present itself as a champion of \u2018peace and security,\u2019 \u2018freedom of navigation,\u2019 and \u2018international law\u2019 while simultaneously backing U.S. military aggression and Washington\u2019s illegal, interventionist actions in our region.\u201d<\/p>\n The spokesperson also questioned Ottawa\u2019s priorities.<\/p>\n \u201cIf freedom of navigation is truly the issue, why does Canada\u2014having itself experienced American bad faith and knowing that U.S. signatures are \u2018written in pencil\u2019\u2014choose to support U.S. military aggression and economic terrorism instead of calling for an end to American aggression, blockade, and economic warfare?\u201d<\/p>\n He concluded that the Canadian position \u201cis neither \u2018diplomacy\u2019 nor \u2018responsible statecraft\u2019. It is a display of strategic confusion and submission to intimidation\u2014a choice that will not even shield Canada itself from American bullying and aggression.\u201d<\/p>\n According to Press TV, the remarks came in response to a 6 September statement by Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand and Finance Minister Fran\u00e7ois-Philippe Champagne, which condemned what they called Iran\u2019s \u201cdestabilizing activities\u201d, including alleged threats to vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. The ministers also voiced support for US-led efforts to \u201creopen\u201d the waterway and announced additional sanctions.<\/p>\n Baghaei\u2019s statement underscores Tehran\u2019s longstanding position that genuine respect for freedom of navigation and international law requires an end to US military intervention, the alleged blockade of Iranian ports and what Tehran describes as economic terrorism, rather than countries echoing Washington\u2019s narrative while themselves facing pressure from the US, Press TV said.<\/p>\n The broadcaster added that the Islamic Republic has repeatedly affirmed its commitment to the security of the strategic waterway as a coastal state, while reserving its right to self-defence against aggression.<\/p>\n Iranian officials argue that Ottawa\u2019s decision to join what they describe as a campaign of aggression neither serves peace nor protects Canada from the bullying it claims to oppose.<\/p>\n