is the greatest threat to global security and may be looking to use a nuclear weapon.
Harper spoke out the day after his defense minister married Iranian-Canadian human rights activist Nazanin Afshin-Jam. But Harper spoke about the Islamic Republic as a security threat, not a human rights abuser.
Harper said Iran’s musings in recent days about closing the Strait of Hormuz reinforces how serious a threat the country is to peace and security on the planet.
“Iran is a very serious threat to international peace and security. In my judgment, it is the world’s most serious threat to international peace and security,” Harper said in an interview with an Alberta radio station.
“This is a regime that wants to acquire nuclear weapons, it is clearly trying to acquire nuclear weapons, and it has indicated some desire to actually use nuclear weapons.” Actually, it has not done any such thing; it denies having any nuclear military program and publicly condemns nuclear weapons.
Harper said Canada’s sanctions on Iran, which include prohibiting financial transactions with the country, are having some impact, but a coordinated international response is needed.
“The wider international community—even including the Chinese and Russians—that community I think does appreciate that this is a serious threat. I think the problem is there’s not a consensus on what to do about it precisely,” he said.