Canada being closely watched as Iran war escalates, Middle East journalist says

Canadian journalist and Middle East politics analyst Mohamed Fahmy speaks about the panic and turmoil across the Middle East as the conflict in Iran escalates.

An Egyptian-Canadian journalist says panic is spreading across the Middle East as the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran escalates, with civilians in countries long considered safe now caught in the fallout.

“I’ve covered the region for the longest time, and I haven’t seen this kind of turmoil,” said Mohamed Fahmy in an interview with CTV News Channel on Tuesday. “This moment is a crisis that no one would have ever imagined.”

Fahmy, who is currently in Egypt, said the mood on the ground is tense, with people in the region scrambling to understand what comes next. He compared the anxiety to the upheaval of the 1990 Gulf War and the 2003 invasion of Iraq, but said this moment feels different.

“We’re talking about people fleeing the safest cities like Dubai,” he said. “The region is just on edge.”

He pointed to a recent U.S. statement calling on Americans to leave parts of the Middle East as an example of the confusion fuelling public fear. In Egypt, he said, people were puzzled about why their country appeared on advisory lists and how departures would even be possible amid flight restrictions.

“It was mind-boggling,” he said. “How are people supposed to travel when there are so many restrictions on flights?”

Fahmy said many in the region also see no clear strategy from U.S. President Donald Trump.

“It’s regime change at one point, then they’re peddling back and calling it a mission with specific goals,” he said. “The average man on the street here … will tell you that the U.S. president is not making any clear vision of what he wants to do exactly.”

Media coverage in the Middle East, he added, has largely framed the conflict as the United States fighting on behalf of Israel. That narrative has intensified questions about timing, particularly given recent diplomatic talks.

“There were so many indications that this could have been resolved,” Fahmy said, referring to negotiations in Oman. “The question is, why is this happening now?”

He also said Iran had long warned it would retaliate against U.S. interests in the region if attacked, a threat that’s been realized.

In recent days, Fahmy said, unprecedented scenes have unfolded in Gulf states unaccustomed to direct strikes. He described reports of attacks not only on military installations but also on civilian infrastructure, including airports and hotels in Dubai and Kuwait.

“There have been casualties and injuries,” he said, noting that some countries such as Kuwait and Jordan have long maintained warning siren systems, while others did not anticipate facing such threats.

Amid the turmoil, Fahmy said Canada is being closely watched.

“People here understand that Canada has always tried and has been taking a position where they’re not falling into Mr. Trump’s havoc, and how he’s approaching the region,” he said, adding Canada’s response to past tensions with Washington, including trade disputes, has shaped perceptions abroad.

“People here are applauding Canada’s situation and (Prime Minister Mark Carney’s) approach,” Fahmy added.

But as European countries such as Spain and the United Kingdom reassess their positions, he said attention is turning to Ottawa.

“In this specific incident, everyone is trying to see what is Canada going to do next,” Fahmy said.