Latest news with #MinaMorshed
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
After U.S. strikes in Iran, Torontonians with family in Iran, Israel worry for loved ones
U.S. strikes on Iran this weekend are reverberating in Toronto, as with some in the city fear for their loved ones in the Middle East while others protested outside the U.S consulate in reaction. On Saturday, the U.S. military attacked key Iranian nuclear sites in Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan, the latest development in an escalating conflict between Israel and Iran. Mina Morshed, a Toronto woman who has family in Tehran, told CBC TV's Rosemary Barton Live that her parents and sister are in Tehran and she spoke to them a few days ago. She said she has tried to tell them that they are not alone. "I am worried about my parents, family, friends," Morshed said. WATCH | Iranian Canadian in Toronto worries for family in Tehran after U.S. strikes: Those with family in Israel have similar concerns. Laurent Attali, a Toronto-born Montrealer now living in Etobicoke, said he has been trying for days to get his two daughters and their families, who live near Tel Aviv, out of Israel. He said he bought them two sets of plane tickets that were cancelled by the airlines. Attali said the latest plan is for them to go by bus from Tel Aviv to the Amman airport in Jordan, but it's not a good solution, as Amman is considered hostile to Israelis because of Palestinian supporters who live there. He said he thinks the Canadian government could charter a boat or plane from Israel to get Canadians people out. Now, Attali said he has been glued to the television to figure out where the bombs are being dropped in Tel Aviv to see if the sites are near where his family and friends live. "For us, since that evening, we have been 10 to 15 hours a day [watching] the TV. We are all the time at the TV," he said. Protestors gather outside U.S. consulate Sunday Meanwhile, hundreds of people gathered outside the U.S. consulate on Sunday afternoon to protest U.S. military action in Iran. Organizers of the "Hands Off Iran" rally said in a media advisory that the demonstrators condemn Western involvement in the conflict, and are also calling on the Canadian government to sanction Israel and to implement an arms embargo on Israel. Parsa Golesorkhi, an organizer of the rally, said he has been watching his hometown of Tehran get bombed in what he called an "unprovoked, illegal and criminal act of aggression" by Israel and now, the United States. "We are here first of all to condemn this aggression against our people — and we are not just as Iranians, but standing with our allies from different communities, from the Palestinian community, from the Jewish community," Golesorkhi said. Noah Shack, CEO of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, based in Toronto, said attacks on Iranian nuclear sites are justified given the danger that they pose to the world. "The Iranian nuclear program poses a threat not just to Israel but to the broader Middle East and indeed the world," he said. "This is a dangerous regime and the world is safer without them having access to nuclear weapons." Prime Minister Mark Carney, in a post on X, said on Sunday that the U.S. military action was "designed to alleviate" threats posed by Iran, but the situation in the Middle East remains "highly volatile." "Stability in the region is a priority," Carney said. "Canada calls on parties to return immediately to the negotiating table and reach a diplomatic solution to end this crisis."
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
After U.S. strikes in Iran, Torontonians with family in Iran, Israel worry for loved ones
U.S. strikes on Iran this weekend are reverberating in Toronto, as with some in the city fear for their loved ones in the Middle East while others protested outside the U.S consulate in reaction. On Saturday, the U.S. military attacked key Iranian nuclear sites in Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan, the latest development in an escalating conflict between Israel and Iran. Mina Morshed, a Toronto woman who has family in Tehran, told CBC TV's Rosemary Barton Live that her parents and sister are in Tehran and she spoke to them a few days ago. She said she has tried to tell them that they are not alone. "I am worried about my parents, family, friends," Morshed said. WATCH | Iranian Canadian in Toronto worries for family in Tehran after U.S. strikes: Those with family in Israel have similar concerns. Laurent Attali, a Toronto-born Montrealer now living in Etobicoke, said he has been trying for days to get his two daughters and their families, who live near Tel Aviv, out of Israel. He said he bought them two sets of plane tickets that were cancelled by the airlines. Attali said the latest plan is for them to go by bus from Tel Aviv to the Amman airport in Jordan, but it's not a good solution, as Amman is considered hostile to Israelis because of Palestinian supporters who live there. He said he thinks the Canadian government could charter a boat or plane from Israel to get Canadians people out. Now, Attali said he has been glued to the television to figure out where the bombs are being dropped in Tel Aviv to see if the sites are near where his family and friends live. "For us, since that evening, we have been 10 to 15 hours a day [watching] the TV. We are all the time at the TV," he said. Protestors gather outside U.S. consulate Sunday Meanwhile, hundreds of people gathered outside the U.S. consulate on Sunday afternoon to protest U.S. military action in Iran. Organizers of the "Hands Off Iran" rally said in a media advisory that the demonstrators condemn Western involvement in the conflict, and are also calling on the Canadian government to sanction Israel and to implement an arms embargo on Israel. Parsa Golesorkhi, an organizer of the rally, said he has been watching his hometown of Tehran get bombed in what he called an "unprovoked, illegal and criminal act of aggression" by Israel and now, the United States. "We are here first of all to condemn this aggression against our people — and we are not just as Iranians, but standing with our allies from different communities, from the Palestinian community, from the Jewish community," Golesorkhi said. Noah Shack, CEO of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, based in Toronto, said attacks on Iranian nuclear sites are justified given the danger that they pose to the world. "The Iranian nuclear program poses a threat not just to Israel but to the broader Middle East and indeed the world," he said. "This is a dangerous regime and the world is safer without them having access to nuclear weapons." Prime Minister Mark Carney, in a post on X, said on Sunday that the U.S. military action was "designed to alleviate" threats posed by Iran, but the situation in the Middle East remains "highly volatile." "Stability in the region is a priority," Carney said. "Canada calls on parties to return immediately to the negotiating table and reach a diplomatic solution to end this crisis."
CBC
8 hours ago
- Politics
- CBC
After U.S. strikes in Iran, Torontonians with family in Iran, Israel worry for loved ones
Social Sharing U.S. strikes on Iran this weekend are reverberating in Toronto, as with some in the city fear for their loved ones in the Middle East while others protested outside the U.S consulate in reaction. On Saturday, the U.S. military attacked key Iranian nuclear sites in Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan, the latest development in an escalating conflict between Israel and Iran. Mina Morshed, a Toronto woman who has family in Tehran, told CBC TV's Rosemary Barton Live that her parents and sister are in Tehran and she spoke to them a few days ago. She said she has tried to tell them that they are not alone. "I am worried about my parents, family, friends," Morshed said. WATCH | Iranian Canadian in Toronto worries for family in Tehran after U.S. strikes: Iranian Canadian says she's worried about family, hopes for peace 4 days ago Duration 6:04 Those with family in Israel have similar concerns. Laurent Attali, a Toronto-born Montrealer now living in Etobicoke, said he has been trying for days to get his two daughters and their families, who live near Tel Aviv, out of Israel. He said he bought them two sets of plane tickets that were cancelled by the airlines. Attali said the latest plan is for them to go by bus from Tel Aviv to the Amman airport in Jordan, but it's not a good solution, as Amman is considered hostile to Israelis because of Palestinian supporters who live there. He said he thinks the Canadian government could charter a boat or plane from Israel to get Canadians people out. Now, Attali said he has been glued to the television to figure out where the bombs are being dropped in Tel Aviv to see if the sites are near where his family and friends live. "For us, since that evening, we have been 10 to 15 hours a day [watching] the TV. We are all the time at the TV," he said. Protestors gather outside U.S. consulate Sunday Meanwhile, hundreds of people gathered outside the U.S. consulate on Sunday afternoon to protest U.S. military action in Iran. Organizers of the "Hands Off Iran" rally said in a media advisory that the demonstrators condemn Western involvement in the conflict, and are also calling on the Canadian government to sanction Israel and to implement an arms embargo on Israel. Parsa Golesorkhi, an organizer of the rally, said he has been watching his hometown of Tehran get bombed in what he called an "unprovoked, illegal and criminal act of aggression" by Israel and now, the United States. "We are here first of all to condemn this aggression against our people — and we are not just as Iranians, but standing with our allies from different communities, from the Palestinian community, from the Jewish community," Golesorkhi said. Noah Shack, CEO of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, based in Toronto, said attacks on Iranian nuclear sites are justified given the danger that they pose to the world. "The Iranian nuclear program poses a threat not just to Israel but to the broader Middle East and indeed the world," he said. "This is a dangerous regime and the world is safer without them having access to nuclear weapons." Prime Minister Mark Carney, in a post on X, said on Sunday that the U.S. military action was "designed to alleviate" threats posed by Iran, but the situation in the Middle East remains "highly volatile." "Stability in the region is a priority," Carney said. "Canada calls on parties to return immediately to the negotiating table and reach a diplomatic solution to end this crisis."
CBC
4 days ago
- Politics
- CBC
Canadians desperate to hear from families in Iran as violence escalates and routes out are limited
Social Sharing Iranian-Canadians are trying desperately to get in touch with friends and family in Iran as missiles fall and routes out of the country are limited. Mina Morshed, who lives in Toronto, says her parents in Tehran are sick and unable to leave. In a brief phone conversation Friday, her mother told her the bombing had started and had to hang up. Morshed wasn't able to reach her family members on Wednesday. "I'm very upset and worried about them," she told CBC News Network. WATCH | Mina Morshed says she's worried for her family: Iranian Canadian says she's worried about family, hopes for peace 8 hours ago Duration 6:04 Iran's communications ministry says it has restricted internet access to defend against Israeli cyberattacks amid ongoing violence between the two countries, making contact even more difficult. Morshed says she tries not to pass her stress onto her kids, but she says they're also becoming worried and asking what will happen if their grandma and grandpa die. "I explained, 'Don't worry, they're strong enough. They'll try to protect themselves,' " she said. Hundreds killed in escalating strikes Israel launched the first strikes of an air campaign against Iran last week, kicking off an exchange of missile fire between the two countries. A Washington-based Iranian human rights group said at least 585 people, including 239 civilians, have been killed in Iran and more than 1,300 wounded. Iran has fired some 400 missiles and hundreds of drones, killing at least 24 people in Israel and wounding hundreds. Global Affairs Canada says more than 4,000 Canadians were registered as being in Iran as of Tuesday evening, with more than 6,600 Canadians in Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Because registration is voluntary, these numbers are likely an undercount. Both Iran and Israel have suspended outgoing flights. Thousands have fled Tehran by car, spending hours in gridlocked traffic amid warnings from U.S. President Donald Trump to immediately evacuate the city of 10 million. Many are stuck there — including those who are elderly and others who can't afford to leave. WATCH | Iranian-Canadians on the conflict with Israel: Iranian-Canadians reflect on conflict between Iran and Israel 7 hours ago Duration 8:06 Two Iranian-Canadians living in Metro Vancouver, Parisa Moshfegh and restaurateur and community leader Fred Soofi, spoke with The Early Edition's Stephen Quinn as the war between Iran and Israel escalates. They said they're worried about their loved ones as Iranian officials report heavy civilian casualties. Besat Zardosht, in London, Ont., said she's happy to be safe in Canada with her daughter, but worries about her friends, nieces and nephews in Iran. She says she's been urging her loved ones to relocate to a different city where it may be safer. "My heart just wants to explode hearing from them and being here and not being able to do much," Zardosht said. Sara Shariati told CBC Vancouver she's been struggling to get in touch with her dad, a dual Canadian-Iranian citizen, and worries she might not see him again. "It's a very scary time," she said. "I think a lot of Iranians in the diaspora, me included, feel helpless." Iranian Canadians can cross into Turkey or Armenia Global Affairs Canada says Canadians in Iran have three border crossing options to enter Turkey, and one option to enter Armenia. Dr. Panid Borhanjoo, who lives in Hamilton and was visiting family in Tehran, managed to find a driver to take him to the border where he crossed into Turkey. There, he was able to catch a flight from Istanbul to Toronto. But he told CBC Hamilton that he thought he might be killed in the process as bombs were falling. And of course, he's still worried about the family he left behind. "When my mom hugged me, she said, 'If this is the last time I'm seeing you, I love you.' That's not something I'll ever be able to forget," he said. Global Affairs Canada says it has not received any reports of Canadians injured or killed in the region, but said Monday that Canada had moved four non-critical personnel and 20 dependents out of Tel Aviv and Ramallah. WATCH | Challenges facing Canadians in Iran and Israel: Canadians face challenges fleeing Israel-Iran conflict 24 hours ago Duration 1:55 Thousands of Canadians have been stuck in Iran and Israel since the two countries started exchanging airstrikes, and officials warn it could be weeks before flights resume. The department says Canadians in Israel can cross ground borders, with three exits leading to Jordan and one exit to leading to Egypt. Global Affairs Canada is encouraging Canadians in the Middle East to register through the Registration of Canadians Abroad Service, if they have not already, to receive important updates. The Canadian Embassy in Tel Aviv and the Representative Office of Canada in Ramallah remain operational for Canadians in Israel or the West Bank, but obtaining consular services is more difficult in Iran, where Canada has not had an embassy since 2012. The government is advising Canadians to avoid all travel to Iran, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, and to avoid non-essential travel to Lebanon and Jordan.
