Defence Minister Says Poilievre’s Calls for Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Facilities ‘Irresponsible’

Defence Minister Bill Blair says it is “reckless and irresponsible” for the Conservative leader to call for Israel to strike Iranian nuclear facilities, citing international humanitarian laws.
Under the convention, dams, dykes, and nuclear electrical generating stations “shall not be made the object of attack, even where these objects are military objectives.”
“I think it’s reckless and irresponsible to call for attacks on nuclear facilities which are very specifically prohibited under international humanitarian laws,” Blair said.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said Israel should be able to attack Iran’s nuclear facilities in response to Iranian missile attacks on the country last week. The comments were made during an event commemorating the one-year anniversary of the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attack against Israel.
Poilievre told reporters Oct. 9 that preventing the “genocidal, theocratic, unstable dictatorship” from developing nuclear weapons would be ”a gift by the Jewish state to humanity.” Iran says its nuclear program is for energy generation and peaceful purposes, while Israel says the Islamic regime in Iran is after nuclear weapons.
“Can you not agree that those sites are fair game for Israel to retaliate against the regime in Tehran?” he asked, to which Blair responded that it was “not a yes or no answer.”
When Conservative MP Dean Allison asked whether Iran should be allowed to develop nuclear weapons, Blair said he was “deeply concerned” about the country’s increasing military capabilities and support for terrorist organizations.
“So why wouldn’t Israel have the ability to attack those sites?” Allison asked.
Blair said while the international community has a “responsibility to do everything it can to prevent Iran from obtaining” nuclear weapons, it should “not be done in a way that puts countless lives and the environment” at risk.
During a press conference held later in the day, Poilievre suggested Blair had done a “flip-flop” on his answer in committee.
“The Liberals said they had no problem with that country getting nuclear weapons,” he said. “Today, Bill Blair flip-flopped in committee and said that there would be certain circumstances where a strike against a nuclear weapons manufacturing facility would be allowed.”
“So you have to ask Bill Blair where he stands, because he keeps changing his mind every single day.”