Australia says it supports US strike, calls for return to diplomacy

SYDNEY – Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on June 23 that Canberra supported the

United States strike on Iran,

and called for de-escalation and a return to diplomacy.

“The world has long agreed that Iran cannot be allowed to get a nuclear weapon and we support action to prevent that,” Mr Albanese told reporters in Canberra on June 23.

Mr Albanese said “the information has been clear” that Iran had enriched uranium to 60 per cent and “there is no other explanation for it to reach 60, other than engaging in a programme that wasn’t about civilian nuclear power”.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the UN nuclear watchdog that inspects Iran’s nuclear facilities, reported on May 31 that Iran had enough uranium enriched to up to 60 per cent, if enriched further, for nine nuclear weapons.

“Had Iran complied with the very reasonable requests that were made, including by the IAEA, then circumstances would have been different,” said Mr Albanese, referring to limitations on enrichment.

In a series of television and radio interviews on June 23, Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the strike was a unilateral action by its security ally the United States, and Australia was joining calls from Britain and other countries for Iran to return to the negotiating table.

“We support action that the US has taken to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon,” Ms Wong said in a television interview with Seven Sunrise.

“We do not want to see escalation,” she told reporters in Canberra.

There are around 2,900 Australians in Iran and 1,300 in Israel who are seeking to leave.

Australia closed its embassy in Tehran on June 20, after Ms Wong spoke with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Australia has suspended bus evacuations from Israel after the US strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities, but is making preparations for potential evacuations if air space in Israel re-opens, Ms Wong said.

Australia said it has sent two defence planes to the Middle East in non-combat roles to assist civilian evacuations.

Australia’s security strategy is deeply entwined with its relationship with long-time ally the United States.

In 2021, it joined with the United States and Britain in a multi-decade pact to equip the Australian navy with stealthy nuclear-powered submarines, seeking to balance China’s growing military strength.

Meanwhile, New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters said on June 22 that he was examining the evidence surrounding Iran’s nuclear enrichment programme, while New Zealand’s Prime Minister Christopher Luxon called for a return to dialogue, Radio New Zealand reported. AFP, REUTERS