Honourable senators, I rise today to speak in solidarity with the people of Iran, a nation whose rich culture and proud history have, for far too long, been eclipsed by the cruelty of its rulers.

I am old enough to remember when Iran was a place where men, women and children could walk the streets of Tehran in relative freedom, express themselves and hope for a future of progress and opportunity.

But for over four decades, under the iron grip of the Islamic Republic, Iran has become a country not governed by the consent of its people, but through repression, violence and fear. Time and again, Iranians, especially women and young people, have poured into the streets demanding change, demanding justice, demanding freedom. Their courage is as humbling as their suffering is heartbreaking. They face arbitrary arrests, torture and even execution for the simple act of demanding the basic rights and freedoms that are their birthright.

This is a long way from the Iran most of us can remember, and it doesn’t end there. We all know by now how the regime has long exported its terror and repression far beyond its borders. Take Beirut — once a symbol of freedom and vibrancy in the Middle East — today, a city poisoned by Iran’s proxy forces and influence in the region.

From Hezbollah to Hamas, the Iranian regime funds, arms and supports groups that destabilize entire regions. It threatens global peace through its proxy wars and malign influence.

And we have seen the deadly consequences of this influence first-hand in the horrific October 7 attacks on Israel and the chaos that has ensued in their aftermath. In recent weeks, Israel has taken decisive action against elements of the Iranian regime that have long threatened not only its own people but peace and stability across the Middle East.

Let us be clear: The Iranian regime’s support for terror, its nuclear ambitions and its brutal crackdown on its own citizens have made it a danger not just to its neighbours but to the world at large.

That is why, colleagues, as Canadians, as parliamentarians and as defenders of the democratic values we all cherish, we must recognize and thank Israel for its effort in neutralizing these threats.

We cannot have it both ways. We have seen our government urge restraint on both sides, as if there is a moral equivalence between Israel, a beacon of democracy and human rights in the Middle East, and the Iranian regime, which exports terror, violence and oppression. This is no equivalency. We must stand firmly with Israel in its right to defend itself and its fight against the forces of tyranny and oppression.

To the people of Iran, I want to say this: Canada sees you. We recognize your courage. We stand with your right to live in freedom and dignity. Your fight for justice and your longing for a future free from tyranny are not forgotten but are supported by Canada. Thank you, colleagues.