Australia Calls for Middle East De-escalation as Israel Strikes Iran Nuclear Facilities
Australia Calls for Middle East De-escalation as Israel Strikes Iran Nuclear Facilities
Foreign Minister Penny Wong expressed alarm Friday over escalating tensions between Israel and Iran after Israeli forces launched widespread strikes targeting Iranian nuclear facilities, including the main enrichment site at Natanz.
Speaking in Adelaide as breaking news emerged of explosions across Tehran, Wong called on all parties to refrain from actions that would further destabilize the volatile region.
"Australia is alarmed by the escalation between Israel and Iran. This risks further destabilising a region that is already volatile," Wong said. "We call on all parties to refrain from actions and rhetoric that would further exacerbate tensions."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed his forces targeted Iran's leading nuclear scientists and the Natanz enrichment facility in what he described as a decisive moment in Israel's history.
"This operation will continue for as many days as it takes. We are at a decisive moment in Israel's history," Netanyahu said in an address to the nation Friday.
The Israeli Air Force reported that dozens of aircraft participated in the "opening strike" on various areas of Iran, launched "based on high-quality intelligence, with the aim of damaging the Iranian nuclear program and in response to the Iranian regime's ongoing aggression against Israel."
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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized American forces were not involved in the unilateral Israeli action.
"Tonight, Israel took unilateral action against Iran. We are not involved in strikes against Iran and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region," Rubio said in a statement. "Israel advised us that they believe this action was necessary for its self-defense."
Iranian state media reported multiple fatalities in Tehran, with Press TV confirming deaths from the Israeli attacks. Iran's state television said several explosions were heard in the capital and the country's air defense systems remained on full alert.
The strikes prompted Iraq to close its airspace and suspend flights at all airports, according to Iraqi state media. The US State Department had ordered departure of non-essential personnel from Baghdad earlier this week.
Wong emphasized the international community's understanding of Iran's nuclear threat while urging diplomatic solutions.
"We all understand the need, the threat of Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile program. It represents a threat to international peace and security, and we urge the parties to prioritize dialogue and diplomacy," Wong said.
The foreign minister confirmed she spoke with Israel's ambassador Thursday as tensions mounted, reiterating Australia's position that diplomatic engagement should take precedence over military action.
Israeli officials warned citizens that sirens were expected to sound across wide areas of Israel following the military operation against Iranian nuclear facilities.
"Every citizen must know what the best protected space is in their vicinity. When a warning is issued, one must enter protected spaces and remain there until an official announcement says it is safe to leave," Israeli officials stated.
Wong advised Australians in the region to monitor Smart Traveler closely for updated travel guidance as the situation develops.
The escalation occurred alongside Wong's announcement of $10 million in additional humanitarian aid for Palestinian civilians in Gaza, bringing Australia's total contribution to more than $110 million since October 7, 2023.
Australia will provide $5 million to Jordan's Hashemite Charity Organisation to deliver critical medical supplies to Jordanian field hospitals operating within Gaza. These facilities have treated more than 600,000 patients and conducted over 22,000 surgical procedures since the conflict began.
"The Jordan Hashemite charity organisation is a partner of choice for many, and that includes Australia, who want to make a difference," said Dr Anne Ali, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, who joined Wong for the announcement.
An additional $5 million will support UNICEF's nutritional programs for children affected by the conflict, providing approximately 2.9 million rations of nutritional support sufficient for 8,000 children for four months.
"All of Gaza is at imminent risk of famine, and children under the age of five are the most impacted," Ali said. "Every child deserves safety. Every child deserves medical care. Every child deserves food."
More than 11,000 children have been enrolled in UNICEF's acute malnutrition treatment programs since the beginning of the year, highlighting the scale of humanitarian need.
Wong criticized Israel's restrictions on humanitarian aid access, stating they were costing lives in Gaza.
"Aid is being prevented from reaching those who need it. Children are injured and children are starving," Wong said. "Israel's ongoing restriction of aid into Gaza is costing lives. Israel must allow aid to enter unhindered."
Australia has consistently joined international calls for Israel to allow full and immediate resumption of aid distribution in line with International Court of Justice binding orders.
"Australia has consistently been part of the international call on Israel to allow a full and immediate resumption of aid into Gaza in line with the binding orders of the International Court of Justice. We repeat that call today," Wong said.
The foreign minister also addressed the Air India crash in Ahmedabad, confirming no Australians were believed to be among the casualties.
"This is heartbreaking. And I know I speak for all Australians when I say this is heartbreaking," Wong said, noting she had exchanged messages with Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar expressing condolences.
"At this stage, I have not been advised that any Australians were on board, but we remain closely engaged with Indian authorities," Wong said.
When asked about potential diplomatic personnel withdrawals from the Middle East, Wong emphasized Australia's commitment to staff safety without providing specific details.
"You should assume that we take the safety of Australians very seriously, the Australians who work either in the ADF or in our other posts overseas through various agencies, and we will always take the appropriate action on that," Wong said.
The foreign minister addressed recent sanctions Australia imposed alongside the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand and Norway against two Israeli ministers involved in extremist settler activities.
"We partnered with others, the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand and Norway, to sanction two ministers whose extremist settler project or support for that is, for the reasons I outlined, when I made the announcement, something we're all deeply concerned about," Wong said.
She emphasized Australia's principled opposition to the Netanyahu government's policies while maintaining friendship with the Israeli people.
"We have a long-standing friendship with the people of Israel and we want that to continue," Wong said. "But we disagree with the actions of the Netanyahu government. We disagree with the actions of these ministers in relation to the West Bank, and we disagree with the actions of the Netanyahu government in the blockade of aid into Gaza."
Wong deflected questions about potential changes to the AUKUS partnership under the Trump administration, emphasizing the multi-decade nature of the strategic alliance.
"AUKUS delivers benefits to all countries involved in the partnership, and in particular there are many near-term benefits the United States from AUKUS including additional maintenance days, additional submarine days in the water as a consequence of Australian involvement," Wong said.
The foreign minister confirmed Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's upcoming travel to Fiji for meetings with Pacific partners before proceeding to the United States and G7 summit.
"Fiji's a very important partner for Australia in the Pacific, and the Prime Minister, Prime Minister Albanese and Prime Minister Rambuk are good friends," Wong said, defending the Pacific engagement amid questions about prioritizing US relations.
"The Pacific matters to Australian security, the Pacific matters to the stability of our region. We're in a permanent contest in the Pacific," Wong said.
On maritime surveillance funding in the Pacific, Wong emphasized the importance of ensuring sovereignty and international law compliance in the region's vast maritime zones.
"The maritime domain is an important part of ensuring a stable and secure region in which sovereignty is respected," Wong said. "For these countries, they have very large maritime zones, but sometimes very small islands."
The developments underscore Australia's complex diplomatic position as it seeks to maintain relationships with multiple partners while responding to rapidly evolving Middle East tensions that threaten regional stability and international security.
As the situation continues to develop, Australian officials emphasized their commitment to diplomatic solutions while preparing for potential escalation that could affect Australian interests and personnel across the volatile region.
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