Ottawa Advises Canadians in Iran to ‘Leave Now’ Amid Tensions

Canadians remaining in Iran need to leave the country immediately if they can, Ottawa says, as the third round of negotiations between the United States and Iran failed to reach an agreement.

“Due to ongoing tensions, hostilities in the region could resume with little or no warning. Leave Iran now if you can do so safely,” Global Affairs Canada (GAC) said in travel advice posted on X on Feb. 26.

The department added Canadians in Iran should make sure they have enough supplies if they’re required to shelter in place and to keep travel documents up-to-date.

The U.S. State Department has also taken measures in apparent response to developments in the region. The U.S. embassy in Israel issued a notice on Feb. 27 saying non-emergency personnel and their family members can depart the country due to “safety risks.”

Israel was struck by Iranian ballistic missiles during the two countries’ brief war last summer, which came to an end after the United States bombed several Iranian nuclear facilities.

“Persons may wish to consider leaving Israel while commercial flights are available,” the U.S. embassy said on Feb. 27.

The Epoch Times contacted GAC to ask whether its embassies in the region are taking a similar approach. A response was not received by publication time.

Ottawa had previously warned Canadians to leave Iran on Jan. 13 during mass protests in the country, and said overland crossings were available via Armenia and Turkey. That advisory came the same day U.S. President Donald Trump said it was a “good idea for Americans to leave Iran.”

Global Affairs’ current advisory on Iran, last updated on Feb. 4, says to “avoid all travel” to the country due to the risk of civil unrest, tensions in the region, and a high risk of arbitrary detention. The advisory also states that hostilities in the region “could resume with little or no warning.”

Mass protests began in Iran in late December 2025, due to a collapsing currency and the rising price of food and other essential items. While Iranian officials said over 3,000 people died during the demonstrations, the Human Rights Activists’ News Agency estimated the number was over 10,000, and U.S. President Donald Trump recently said over 32,000 died during the protests.

The United States has amassed a significant military presence in the Middle East since January, including two aircraft carrier groups.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Feb. 27 that he’s “not happy” with how talks with Iran are going. He said he’d prefer not to use military force but would do so if he judges it’s warranted.

The United States has demanded that Iran give up its pursuit of nuclear weapons, whereas Iran says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes. A list of U.S. demands, reported by the Wall Street Journal, also include Iran handing over its enriched uranium, not pursuing further enrichment activities, and fully destroying its facilities at Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordow, all of which were struck by the United States last summer.

The latest round of talks were held in Geneva, Switzerland, and didn’t lead to any breakthrough. Iran did not accept U.S. terms, instead offering to reduce enrichment to as low as 1.5 percent, pause enrichment for several years, and process its enriched uranium through a regional consortium based in Iran.

Omani Foreign Minister Badr Al Busaidi, who mediated the talks, said there has been “significant progress in the negotiation,” and that technical discussions will continue next week in Vienna. Al Busaidi is visiting Washington, D.C., on Feb. 27 to discuss negotiations with U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance.

Reuters contributed to this article.