Carney reiterates call to respect international law as Trump threatens 'civilization'

Prime Minister Carney speaks on the rising tensions between Iran and the U.S. amid upcoming deadline for peace talks.

OTTAWA -- Prime Minister Mark Carney said leaders involved in the war in Iran must “choose their words” and act prudently, but didn’t specifically criticize U.S. President Donald Trump for his recent inflammatory threats of potential American military action.

Trump said in a post on Tuesday that “a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again” if a deal isn’t reached to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

That followed a comment he made last week about bombing Iran “back to the stone ages.”

Asked about Trump’s remarks at a Thursday news conference in Brampton, Ont., Carney said all parties in the Iran war need to respect international law.

“That means not targeting, certainly civilians, or civilian infrastructure. And we urge all parties in this war to follow those responsibilities,” Carney said, without naming Trump or the United States specifically.

Carney also reiterated his stance that the Iranian regime is a global security threat in response to a question on whether he regretted initially supporting the war.

Just over an hour before his 8 p.m. deadline, Trump announced he was pulling back from his threats of widespread strikes, subject to Iran agreeing to a two-week ceasefire and to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said it had accepted a two-week ceasefire in the war.

At the onset of the war, Carney said Canada supported the strikes as a means to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

But days later Carney said that support came with “regret,” calling the conflict “another example of the failure of the international order.” He cited Iran’s pattern of ignoring UN Security Council resolutions and the failure of the U.S. and Israel to consult with allies, including Canada, before launching the attacks.

“It has always been the case, though, that Canada makes a distinction -- a fundamental distinction, as others do -- between those objectives, and obligations under international law, and the respect for human rights,” Carney said Tuesday.

Other international leaders have called for restraint in recent days, including UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres who warned the U.S. that attacks on civilian infrastructure are banned under international law.

Pope Leo XIV said Tuesday Trump’s threat to destroy Iranian civilization was “truly unacceptable” and said any attacks on civilian infrastructure violate international law.

Some Canadian politicians criticized Carney’s refusal to specifically address Trump’s rhetoric.

“Our ally is threatening genocide. At Davos, our prime minister promised principled consistency. Where’s Canada’s condemnation?” NDP MP and former interim leader Don Davies posted on X.

Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet called on Carney to summon U.S. ambassador Pete Hoekstra to inform him Canada “will not condone any words or actions of such violence against civilians.”

On Easter Sunday, Trump threatened to destroy power plants and bridges in Iran if the Strait of Hormuz wasn’t opened.

Experts who spoke with The Associated Press say infrastructure like power facilities can be attacked under the laws of armed conflict if it provides electricity to a military base in addition to civilians, but that strikes must not cause disproportionate harm to the civilian population.

Trump said Monday he’s “not at all” concerned about committing war crimes as he continues to threaten destruction. He also warned that every power plant will be “burning, exploding and never to be used again.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 7, 2026.

With files from David Baxter and The Associated Press

Nick Murray, The Canadian Press