Australia Backs US Strikes on Iran Nuclear Sites as 4,200 Citizens Seek Evacuation
Australia endorsed U.S. military strikes targeting Iran's nuclear facilities while scrambling to evacuate more than 4,200 Australians and their families from Iran and Israel as airspace closures complicate rescue efforts.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong told reporters Tuesday that Australia supports international action to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, defending the strikes despite criticism from legal experts who called the military action a breach of international law.
"Australia has been clear along with the international community that Iran cannot be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon," Wong said. "We support action to prevent that from occurring and this is what this is."
The U.S. conducted what officials described as unilateral strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, with American authorities later reporting the attacks caused severe damage to the targeted sites.
Wong revealed that 2,900 Australians and their families currently registered with Australian authorities in Iran are seeking to leave the country, while another 1,300 Australians and their families in Israel also want evacuation assistance.
Nuclear Threat Assessment
The International Atomic Energy Agency has determined that Iran possesses sufficient heavily enriched uranium to produce several nuclear weapons, Wong said, citing the U.N. nuclear watchdog's latest assessment.
"It has also said that Iran is not in compliance with its obligations under the non-proliferation arrangements that it has signed up to," Wong told reporters.
The strikes targeted facilities used exclusively for Iran's nuclear program, Wong said, defending the action against criticism from international legal experts who argued the military operation violated the U.N. Charter.
"I would make the point that the facilities which have been targeted are only for the purpose of Iran's nuclear program," Wong said. "I would make that point, and I think that does matter."
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U.S. forces dropped 14 of the enormous bombs during the operation, along with dozens of other precision-guided weapons. A guided missile submarine also fired more than two dozen Tomahawk cruise missiles at surface infrastructure targets at Esfahan.
More than 125 U.S. aircraft participated in the complex operation, including multiple flights of fourth and fifth-generation fighters, dozens of air refueling tankers, and intelligence and surveillance aircraft. The mission required precise coordination across multiple time zones and involved forces from U.S. Strategic Command, Transportation Command, Cyber Command, Space Command and European Command.
"No other country on planet Earth could have conducted the operation," Hegseth said. "Not even close."
The B-2 bombers employed elaborate deception tactics to maintain surprise. Part of the strike package initially flew west toward the Pacific as a decoy before the main force of seven bombers proceeded eastward with minimal communications. The aircraft completed multiple in-flight refuelings during the marathon mission.
Once over Iranian territory, U.S. forces used additional deception measures, including decoys and high-speed suppression weapons to clear any potential threats. Fourth and fifth-generation fighter aircraft swept ahead of the bomber formation at high altitude and speed.
"This type of integration is exactly what our joint force does better than anyone else in the world," Caine said.
Pentagon officials said initial battle damage assessments indicate all three targeted nuclear facilities sustained "extremely severe damage and destruction." However, they declined to specify whether Iran's nuclear program had been completely eliminated.
"Final battle damage will take some time, but initial battle damage assessments indicate that all three sites sustained extremely severe damage and destruction," Caine said.
The strikes focused specifically on nuclear infrastructure rather than Iranian military forces or civilian populations, officials emphasized. The operation was designed as a precision strike to neutralize Iran's nuclear capabilities while avoiding broader escalation.
"The operation did not target Iranian troops or the Iranian people," Hegseth said.
Despite the operation's success, Pentagon officials warned Iran against any retaliation. Trump issued a statement Saturday night threatening overwhelming force against any Iranian response.
"Any retaliation by Iran against the United States of America will be met with force far greater than what was witnessed tonight," Trump's statement read, according to Hegseth.
U.S. forces across the Middle East have been placed on high alert anticipating possible Iranian retaliation or proxy attacks. General Eric Carilla, commander of U.S. Central Command, elevated force protection measures throughout Iraq, Syria and the Persian Gulf region prior to the strikes.
"Our forces remain on high alert and are fully postured to respond to any Iranian retaliation or proxy attacks, which would be an incredibly poor choice," Caine said.
The operation comes amid rising tensions between the United States and Iran over Tehran's nuclear program. Intelligence officials have assessed Iran's nuclear capabilities differently over time, with some reports suggesting Iran was not actively building nuclear weapons.
When asked about intelligence justifying the strikes, Hegseth said Trump "looked at all of the intelligence, all of the information, and came to the conclusion that the Iranian nuclear program is a threat."
Congressional leaders were notified of the operation only after U.S. aircraft had safely exited Iranian airspace, in compliance with War Powers Act notification requirements, according to Hegseth.
The strikes were coordinated with Israeli forces to ensure no conflicts in timing or airspace usage, though Pentagon officials stressed this was strictly a U.S.-led operation.
"This was U.S. operated and U.S. led," Hegseth said. "We made sure we were not in the same piece of airspace and sky."
The operation required months of planning and positioning, with operational security maintained among a very small circle of Washington officials and military commanders. Many details of the mission remained classified at the time of Sunday's briefing.
"This was a highly classified mission with very few people in Washington knowing the timing or nature of this plan," Caine said.
Pentagon officials expressed particular pride in the operational security surrounding the mission, noting that Iran appeared completely unaware of the incoming strike until weapons began exploding at the nuclear facilities.
"Our B-2s went in and out of these nuclear sites, in and out and back without the world knowing at all," Hegseth said.
The Defense Secretary acknowledged the operation's broader strategic implications while emphasizing the administration's continued willingness to pursue diplomatic solutions.
"We are sending both public and private messages being directly delivered to the Iranians in multiple channels, giving them every opportunity to come to the table," Hegseth said. "They understand precisely what the American position is, precisely what steps they can take to allow for peace."
The strikes represent the most significant U.S. military action against Iran's nuclear program in decades and fulfill a longstanding threat by Trump to prevent Iranian nuclear weapons development. The operation's success could reshape regional dynamics and Iran's nuclear ambitions going forward.
As of Sunday morning, many U.S. military assets remained airborne returning from the operation, with hundreds of service members still deployed across the region maintaining defensive postures.
"I ask that we keep our warfighters on their way home and our deployed service members in our thoughts," Caine said.
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