MONTREAL — June 27, 2026 — Dozens of Iranian-Canadians, predominantly members of the Iranian monarchist community, gathered Saturday afternoon at the Atwater Metro Station in downtown Montreal to protest what they described as a potential move by the federal government to restore diplomatic relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran. The demonstration took place at the intersection of Atwater and Sainte-Catherine Streets, a prominent public space in the heart of the city.
The Trigger: Carney’s Diplomatic Remarks
The protest was sparked by remarks made just days earlier by Prime Minister Mark Carney, who said on Thursday, June 26 that Canada is “at a disadvantage” in countries like Iran where it lacks a diplomatic presence. Speaking to reporters, Carney argued that “engagement is not endorsement,” drawing immediate alarm from Iranian diaspora groups who interpreted the comments as a signal toward restoring ties with Tehran. The Iranian Justice Collective, a diaspora organization, had already claimed earlier in the week that the Carney government was privately intending to reopen embassies in both Ottawa and Tehran — though it declined to reveal its source.
Despite Carney’s clarification that “there have been no discussions” about restoring ties with Iran, and a statement from Global Affairs Canada that it was “not currently considering reopening an embassy in Iran,” the diaspora community remained unconvinced.
Monarchists Lead the Charge
Saturday’s Montreal gathering was organized in large part by Iranian monarchists — supporters of the exiled Pahlavi dynasty — who have been at the forefront of anti-Islamic Republic activism in Canada since the mass protests that swept Iran beginning in late 2025. The demonstrators, many of them carrying the lion-and-sun flag of pre-revolutionary Iran, chanted slogans opposing any form of diplomatic normalization with what they call a repressive and illegitimate regime. The event was filmed and shared live by Montreal-based Iranian-Canadian media outlet Medad (medadmtl), which had issued an urgent call for attendance on June 26.
Broader Context
Canada severed diplomatic relations with Iran in 2012 under Prime Minister Stephen Harper, citing the Islamic Republic as a significant threat to global peace. Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand stated as recently as February 2026 that “regime change” in Iran would be a prerequisite for restoring Canadian ties with Tehran. Opposition leader Pierre Poilievre also weighed in Thursday, calling Iran “a terrorist regime that has killed our people,” referencing transnational repression on Canadian soil and the 2020 downing of Ukrainian International Airlines Flight 752, which killed 55 Canadian citizens.
The Montreal rally reflects a broader and growing unease within Canada’s Iranian diaspora, which has staged a series of high-profile demonstrations over the past year — from Parliament Hill in Ottawa to the U.S. Embassy on Sussex Drive — calling for sustained pressure on the Islamic Republic rather than renewed engagement. For monarchists in particular, any diplomatic overture toward Tehran represents not only a political betrayal, but a direct threat to the safety of their community members who remain in Iran or maintain family ties there.