Canada urges citizens to leave Iran immediately

(Horizon Weekly / OTTAWA) — Canada has called on all of its citizens currently in Iran to leave the country as soon as possible. The Canadian government issued the statement amid rising regional tensions and threats of a possible U.S. strike against Iran.

In Global Affairs Canada’s official travel advisory for Iran, Ottawa maintains its highest level of alert — “avoid all travel.” The advisory cites ongoing regional instability, the risk of sudden military escalation, arbitrary detention, and severely limited consular assistance, as Canada has no embassy operating inside Iran.

“Canadians in Iran, due to ongoing tensions, military hostilities in the region could resume with little to no warning. Leave Iran as soon as it is safe to do so. Ensure your travel documents are valid and obtain sufficient supplies in case departure is not possible and you are required to remain in place,” the advisory said.

Canadian authorities have also cautioned that security conditions can deteriorate rapidly and that exit options could become more limited if hostilities escalate. However, commercial exit routes remain available, including overland travel through Turkey and Armenia, where Canada maintains diplomatic representation and can provide consular assistance.

Poland and Sweden had earlier urged their citizens to leave Iran. Earlier this week, Australia also advised the family members of its diplomats in Israel and Lebanon, as well as its citizens, to consider leaving those two countries.

(For more information, visit https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/iran)