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| PM backs Iran strikes but says Australia is ‘deeply concerned about any escalation’ | PM backs Iran strikes but says Australia is ‘deeply concerned about any escalation’ |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Penny Wong refuses to say whether Pine Gap communications facility in NT was used in US bombing of three Iranian nuclear sites | Penny Wong refuses to say whether Pine Gap communications facility in NT was used in US bombing of three Iranian nuclear sites |
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| Anthony Albanese says Australia supports the US strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities and maintains Iran must not be allowed to possess atomic weapons, but would not say whether his government received advance notice of the US attack. | Anthony Albanese says Australia supports the US strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities and maintains Iran must not be allowed to possess atomic weapons, but would not say whether his government received advance notice of the US attack. |
| The prime minister indicated no Australian resources or support were contributed towards what he called a “unilateral” mission from the Trump administration. Albanese raised concerns about “full-scale war” in the Middle East and called on Iran to return to negotiations and dialogue. | The prime minister indicated no Australian resources or support were contributed towards what he called a “unilateral” mission from the Trump administration. Albanese raised concerns about “full-scale war” in the Middle East and called on Iran to return to negotiations and dialogue. |
| But while he and the foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, refused to say whether the communications facility at Pine Gap in the Northern Territory was used in the American bombing of three Iranian sites, the US has not asked Australia to get involved in any future military engagement. | But while he and the foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, refused to say whether the communications facility at Pine Gap in the Northern Territory was used in the American bombing of three Iranian sites, the US has not asked Australia to get involved in any future military engagement. |
| “The world has long agreed that Iran cannot be allowed to get a nuclear weapon and we support action to prevent that – that is what this is,” Albanese told a press conference in Canberra. “The US action was directed at specific sites central to Iran’s nuclear program. | “The world has long agreed that Iran cannot be allowed to get a nuclear weapon and we support action to prevent that – that is what this is,” Albanese told a press conference in Canberra. “The US action was directed at specific sites central to Iran’s nuclear program. |
| “Iran didn’t come to the table just as it has repeatedly failed to comply with its international obligations. We urge Iran not to take any further action that could destabilise the region.” | “Iran didn’t come to the table just as it has repeatedly failed to comply with its international obligations. We urge Iran not to take any further action that could destabilise the region.” |
| Nearly 24 hours after the US president, Donald Trump, said American strikes had “totally obliterated” key Iranian nuclear enrichment facilities at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan, the Albanese government on Monday gave its first endorsement of the action, after a statement on Sunday from an unnamed government spokesperson noted the strikes. | Nearly 24 hours after the US president, Donald Trump, said American strikes had “totally obliterated” key Iranian nuclear enrichment facilities at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan, the Albanese government on Monday gave its first endorsement of the action, after a statement on Sunday from an unnamed government spokesperson noted the strikes. |
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| Wong told Channel Nine on Monday: “We support action to prevent Iran getting a nuclear weapon.” | Wong told Channel Nine on Monday: “We support action to prevent Iran getting a nuclear weapon.” |
| Following a meeting of cabinet’s national security committee, Albanese said the national terror threat alert level for Australia had not changed and Wong said the foreign affairs department would review travel advice. | Following a meeting of cabinet’s national security committee, Albanese said the national terror threat alert level for Australia had not changed and Wong said the foreign affairs department would review travel advice. |
| While the British government said it was “given due notice” of Sunday’s strike, Albanese did not directly answer several questions about whether Australia had received similar warning, only saying: “This was unilateral action taken by the United States.” | While the British government said it was “given due notice” of Sunday’s strike, Albanese did not directly answer several questions about whether Australia had received similar warning, only saying: “This was unilateral action taken by the United States.” |
| He gave the same response when asked repeatedly if Australia had provided intelligence or material support to the US mission: “We are upfront, but we don’t talk about intelligence, obviously.” | He gave the same response when asked repeatedly if Australia had provided intelligence or material support to the US mission: “We are upfront, but we don’t talk about intelligence, obviously.” |
| Though saying he would not discuss intelligence, Albanese indicated he supported the claim Iran was close to obtaining nuclear weapons. | Though saying he would not discuss intelligence, Albanese indicated he supported the claim Iran was close to obtaining nuclear weapons. |
| “The information has been clear that Iran has sought to increase the grade … there’s no other explanation for it to reach 60 [per cent enrichment of uranium], other than engaging in a program that wasn’t about civilian nuclear power. That was clear,” he said. | “The information has been clear that Iran has sought to increase the grade … there’s no other explanation for it to reach 60 [per cent enrichment of uranium], other than engaging in a program that wasn’t about civilian nuclear power. That was clear,” he said. |
| “It was also very clear over a period of time and as early as a week ago, of course, at the G7, when President Trump left the G7. He made it clear that Iran had an opportunity to comply. They chose not to, and there have been consequences.” | “It was also very clear over a period of time and as early as a week ago, of course, at the G7, when President Trump left the G7. He made it clear that Iran had an opportunity to comply. They chose not to, and there have been consequences.” |
| The federal Coalition backed the strikes and accused Labor of being “too ambiguous” in its response to the major escalation in the Middle East conflict. But international law experts described the federal government’s response as “pretty weak”, saying the American strikes were illegal and that Australia should stand up for the “red lines of international law”. | The federal Coalition backed the strikes and accused Labor of being “too ambiguous” in its response to the major escalation in the Middle East conflict. But international law experts described the federal government’s response as “pretty weak”, saying the American strikes were illegal and that Australia should stand up for the “red lines of international law”. |
| Asked on the ABC whether Australia believed the strikes were in accordance with international law, the foreign affairs minister did not directly respond, but said the US bombing had targeted Iran’s nuclear program. | Asked on the ABC whether Australia believed the strikes were in accordance with international law, the foreign affairs minister did not directly respond, but said the US bombing had targeted Iran’s nuclear program. |
| “The world has long agreed that Iran is not in compliance with its international obligations when it comes to nuclear material,” Wong said. “And the world has long agreed that it is not in the interest of collective peace and security for Iran to gain access to any nuclear weapon.” | “The world has long agreed that Iran is not in compliance with its international obligations when it comes to nuclear material,” Wong said. “And the world has long agreed that it is not in the interest of collective peace and security for Iran to gain access to any nuclear weapon.” |
| Wong rebuffed suggestions the government had been slow to respond. On Nine, she again called for “de-escalation and diplomacy” rather than further ratcheting up of rhetoric. | Wong rebuffed suggestions the government had been slow to respond. On Nine, she again called for “de-escalation and diplomacy” rather than further ratcheting up of rhetoric. |
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| Wong also said the US had not requested Australian assistance in future military operations and that she “wouldn’t speculate”. | Wong also said the US had not requested Australian assistance in future military operations and that she “wouldn’t speculate”. |
| The Coalition’s acting foreign affairs spokesperson, Andrew Hastie, said the opposition backed the US strikes and also called for dialogue, while saying the government had been “too slow and too silent and too passive”. | The Coalition’s acting foreign affairs spokesperson, Andrew Hastie, said the opposition backed the US strikes and also called for dialogue, while saying the government had been “too slow and too silent and too passive”. |
| He told the ABC he did not support regime change in Iran, but backed the strikes as necessary to dismantling Tehran’s nuclear program, rebuffing concerns raised by international law experts that the strikes were illegal. | He told the ABC he did not support regime change in Iran, but backed the strikes as necessary to dismantling Tehran’s nuclear program, rebuffing concerns raised by international law experts that the strikes were illegal. |
| “I think it’s true that in this world today, this is a world governed by might and not right, and anyone who talks about this rules-based global order is really being nostalgic,” Hastie said. | “I think it’s true that in this world today, this is a world governed by might and not right, and anyone who talks about this rules-based global order is really being nostalgic,” Hastie said. |
| “This is the world that we’re living in, and we can’t afford to have countries like Iran with nuclear weapons. I think that’s the bottom line I’d insist on here.” | “This is the world that we’re living in, and we can’t afford to have countries like Iran with nuclear weapons. I think that’s the bottom line I’d insist on here.” |
| Independent senator Jacqui Lambie claimed Albanese was “bending over to Trump”, describing the US president as a “sociopath”, and urged against Australia participating in further action. | Independent senator Jacqui Lambie claimed Albanese was “bending over to Trump”, describing the US president as a “sociopath”, and urged against Australia participating in further action. |
| “We should not be supporting action because he has not played by the rulebook. They [the Australian government] should be saying that ‘you do not play by the rulebook’,” she told the ABC. | “We should not be supporting action because he has not played by the rulebook. They [the Australian government] should be saying that ‘you do not play by the rulebook’,” she told the ABC. |
| Wong urged Australians in Iran and Israel to leave if they could do so safely, saying about 2,900 Australians in Iran and 1,300 in Israel had registered for assistance. She said Australian officials had been deployed to the Iran-Azerbaijan border and if Australians could travel there they would be helped. | Wong urged Australians in Iran and Israel to leave if they could do so safely, saying about 2,900 Australians in Iran and 1,300 in Israel had registered for assistance. She said Australian officials had been deployed to the Iran-Azerbaijan border and if Australians could travel there they would be helped. |
| She also said the government was hoping to take advantage of a possible opening of Israeli airspace. | She also said the government was hoping to take advantage of a possible opening of Israeli airspace. |
| “Obviously, this is very fluid, but we are seeking to make arrangements to utilise that window, if we are able,” Wong said. “And we have advised Australians on the ground of that fact.” | “Obviously, this is very fluid, but we are seeking to make arrangements to utilise that window, if we are able,” Wong said. “And we have advised Australians on the ground of that fact.” |