TEHRAN, IRAN – SEPTEMBER 18: Armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran conduct a street parade and provide military training to supporters in preparation for a potential conflict with the United States and Israel on September 18, 2026 in Tehran, Iran. (Photo credit: Meghdad Mahdadi ATPImages/Getty Images)
Atopi Images | Getty Images News | Getty Images
Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmail Bakaei criticized Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney for not pushing back on US President Donald Trump’s threat to “annihilate” the Islamic Republic.
In his post on X, Bakeye said that Carney had chosen to appease the US government by recasting his threat to “annihilate” Iran as simply “speaking the language of war.”
Secretary Carney claimed Wednesday that Iran is “one of the greatest threats in the world today” and poses an “existential threat to Israel and its allies,” according to reports.
Asked about Trump’s remarks in the US president’s speech to the United Nations General Assembly, Carney said: “There is a war going on and he is speaking the language of war.”
Mr. Bakeye said Mr. Carney “chose to appease the United States instead of condemning its blatant aggression and warmongering.”
He added, “Mark Carney needs to understand that time is too ruthless to allow a haven of illusion and hypocrisy to exist forever. The day will surely dawn when those who have long taken refuge in the shadow of America’s bullying will stand naked before the truth, believing that by copying the words of those in power they can protect themselves from the claws of power.”
In his speech to the United Nations General Assembly, President Trump said “we have a big decision to make” on whether to strike a deal with Iran or “annihilate the Islamic Republic and do it quickly.”
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has accused the United States and Israel of fomenting global instability and carrying out illegal attacks on his country’s civilian population and infrastructure.
Three achievements of Bessent
Separately, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent outlined the goals of the Trump administration’s strategy against Iran.
Bessent told Fox News that Iran’s target “could be one of three nations.”
The first is that the Iranian regimes are “against each other…it’s not impossible.” The second goal, he said, is “to create some sort of revolt from the Iranian people,” and the final goal is “to get the Iranians to abide by the deal if they want it.”
He also said that economic pressure on Iran is “squeezing the Iranian people like we have never seen before.”
Bessent said international flights from Iran have decreased by 80% to 90%, adding: “I don’t know how the Iranian delegation to the United Nations will return home.”
Bessent on Tuesday threatened to “shut down” all Iranian airlines as early as Wednesday, telling CNBC: “What do we do? Once we land, we can’t provide fuel. We can’t provide landing services. We can’t sell tickets, or we’ll be locked out of the dollar system.”
