Joint statement on the situation in Iran

January 9, 2026 – Ottawa (Ontario) - Global Affairs Canada

The Foreign Ministers of Australia, Canada and the European Union issued the following statement:

“We commend the bravery of the Iranian people as they stand up for their dignity and their fundamental right to peaceful protest. 

“We strongly condemn the killing of protestors, the use of violence, arbitrary arrests, and intimidation tactics by the Iranian regime against its own people. 

“Iran must immediately end the use of excessive and lethal force by its security forces including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Basij against protestors. Too many lives – over 40 to date - have already been lost.

“The Iranian regime has the responsibility to protect its own population and must allow for the freedom of expression and peaceful assembly without fear of reprisal.”