US officials have admitted that American forces conducted strikes on Kuhestak, and claimed that the incident is under investigation [2]. These circumstances require an immediate, independent, and transparent investigation and accountability for US-Israeli war crimes.

This massacre at a wedding celebration does not stand in isolation; it follows a criminal pattern of US-Israeli attacks on civilian sites and massacre of civilians throughout the war of aggression on Iran. Other examples include the strikes on an elementary school in the city of Minab that killed over 168 school children and staff, the killing of 21 young female volleyball players and students at a sports hall and nearby school in the city of Lamerd, and repeated attacks on universities, hospitals, residential buildings, and other civilian facilities across Iran. 

These incidents raise grave concerns about gross violations of international humanitarian law. The principle of distinction requires parties to an armed conflict to distinguish at all times between civilians and combatants, and between civilian objects and military objectives; attacks may only be directed against combatants and military objectives. International humanitarian law prohibits indiscriminate attacks and requires the protection of civilians. 

The suffering inflicted on the Iranian nation follows on heels of the US-backed Israeli atrocities against civilians in Palestine. The United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry concluded in September 2025 that Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip [5]. The international community must uphold the principles of international humanitarian law and protection of civilians everywhere, without double standards. 

The Canadian government claims to uphold international law, diplomacy, and multilateralism. Prime Minister Mark Carney stated in March 2026 that “international law binds all belligerents,” implored “all parties, including the United States and Israel, to respect the rules of international engagement,” and called for de-escalation, protection of civilians, and diplomatic engagement [6]. 

The Iranian Canadian Congress continues to call on the Government of Canada to take a principled stance consistent with its stated commitment to international law by demanding an end to the US-Israeli illegal war on Iran and accountability for the civilian toll and violations of international law. We continue to denounce abhorrent attempts to portray the victim of this US-Israeli war of aggression as the aggressor, to pressure and sanction the victim, and to deny Iran's inalienable right to self-defense [7, 8, 9]. 

Iranian Canadians, like our fellow Canadians across the country, stand in solidarity with the victims of the US-Israeli illegal war on Iran and demand a Canadian foreign policy grounded in truth, justice, diplomacy, peace, and the protection of civilian lives. 

References 

[1] The Guardian, “‘Unimaginable grief’: Iranian town left devastated after US strike on wedding,” September 4, 2026. 

[2] Reuters, “Deadly strike on Iranian wedding was likely a direct hit by a US munition, analysis shows,” September 3, 2026. 

[3] Associated Press, “Women gathered in a small Iranian town for a wedding. Then a deadly US strike hit,” September 4, 2026. 

[4] The Guardian, “Iran accuses US of ‘war crime’ after missile blast kills four people at wedding,” September 2, 2026. 

[5] United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel, “Israel has committed genocide in the Gaza Strip, UN Commission finds,” September 16, 2025. 

[6] Prime Minister of Canada, “Statement by Prime Minister Carney on the evolving situation in the Middle East,” March 3, 2026. 

[7] Iranian Canadian Congress, “Letter to Prime Minister Carney: Sanctions against Iran jeopardize Canada’s national interests,” August 24, 2026. 

[8] Iranian Canadian Congress, “Letter to Prime Minister Carney: Canada’s position regarding the US-Israeli war on Iran,” March 27, 2026. 

[9] Iranian Canadian Congress, “Letter to Prime Minister Carney: Policy Recommendations regarding the US-Israeli War on Iran,” March 3, 2026.

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