Australian government calls for de-escalation of war in Iran as Coalition endorses US strikes
In short:
The Australian government has released a statement calling for de-escalation in the Middle East and acknowledging the risk posed by Iran's nuclear program, in which it did not endorse the United States's strikes.
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley offered the Coalition's support for the attack, describing it as "proactive action" to prevent Iran from becoming nuclear-armed.
What's next?
US President Donald Trump has warned Iran against any retaliation, stating it will be met with greater force.
The Australian government has offered no endorsement of the United States's strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, instead issuing a statement reiterating calls for de-escalation as the opposition put forward its support for the military action.
Donald Trump announced the United States had dropped "a full payload of bombs" on the Fordow nuclear site on Sunday, along with strikes on two other locations, declaring Iran's nuclear enrichment facilities "completely and totally obliterated".
In response, a government spokesperson said: "We have been clear that Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile program has been a threat to international peace and security.
"We note the US president’s statement that now is the time for peace. The security situation in the region is highly volatile. We continue to call for de-escalation, dialogue, and diplomacy."
A short time after the government released its statement, the opposition came out in support of what it called the "proactive action" to bomb the nuclear facilities.
"The Coalition supports the military action taken by the United States to stop Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, specifically the strikes taken today against the facilities at Isfahan, Natanz and, critically, Fordow," acting Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister Andrew Hastie told reporters in Western Australia.
"We could never accept a nuclear Iran — Iran is a repressive, theocratic autocracy, and it's a sponsor of terrorism.
"The Coalition does not want war, we do not want war, but we believe this was a necessary action to take by the United States military."
Current and past Liberal politicians were quick to offer their strong support for the strikes, calling on the government to do the same.
Former prime minister Scott Morrison said Mr Trump was left with no other option given the risks of Iran's nuclear program, while Liberal Senator Dave Sharma told Sky News it was "essential that Australia supports what the United States has done".
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is yet to respond to the developments personally.
Earlier on Sunday — before Mr Trump announced the strikes — Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said the government's position remained de-escalation, while noting it recognised Israel's right to defend itself and the risk of Iran's nuclear program.
"We acknowledge all of that, but we are concerned about the prospect of escalation here and this entering into some wider kind of conflict," he told Sky News.
"And that's why we are exercising our voice internationally, along with many other countries, to de-escalate and to put an emphasis on dialogue, on diplomacy."
Loading...Meanwhile, Greens foreign affairs spokesperson David Shoebridge urged the government to distance itself from the conflict and state clearly it would not participate in the war, including by allowing the use of military bases in Australia as part of attacks.
"Our government needs to call out Donald Trump for the warmonger that he is and clearly say that Australia will not be a part of this and speak against yet another escalation of violence in the Middle East," he said.
"You cannot bomb your way to peace … and the people who are always going to pay the price are the ordinary people on the street."
Coalition MP calls for clarity on use of bases
In an address to the nation late on Saturday night, local time, Mr Trump described the action as a "spectacular military success", while a spokesperson for Iran's nuclear organisation told state media the Fordow site experienced limited damage.
The extent of the damage is yet to be independently assessed.
Mr Trump later posted to Truth Social — a social media platform — that any Iranian retaliation on the United States would be "met with a force far greater than what was witnessed tonight".
Speaking to ABC's Insiders minutes before Mr Trump announced the attack, Mr Hastie warned that escalating the war was "very dangerous and risky" and could lead to unintended consequences.
"We could see regime change, a collapse of the Iranian regime, large-scale migration and refugees across the world, but particularly Europe. We don't know who would fill the power vacuum," he said.
"If there is one lesson I take out of Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya — be careful what you wish for. Sometimes it's better the devil you know, particularly for stability."
He also said there needed to be greater transparency over how the United States used Australian military bases.
Mr Marles this week did not say whether American forces could make use of Australian military bases in the north in an action against Iran, stating "we have a system of full knowledge and concurrence" of operations from Australia.
"We need greater transparency, to talk about operationalising the alliance, building guard rails for combat operations and defining our sovereignty," Mr Hastie said.
"This will make things clearer for us, so we can better preserve our national interests."