Australia has ruled out any participation in military operations against Iran, even if the conflict in the Middle East deepens, as fresh Israeli strikes on Tehran and renewed Iranian missile attacks heighten instability across the region.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong said on Monday that Canberra would not deploy troops or otherwise engage in combat operations linked to the escalating hostilities.
“Australia is not central to the issues in the Middle East. We didn’t participate in these strikes and we wouldn’t anticipate participating in the future,” Wong told Channel Nine.
Her comments came after reports that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, was killed in an attack over the weekend, and as the United States confirmed its first casualties in the conflict. US President Donald Trump has hinted the conflict could last for four more weeks.
Wong said the government was working with airlines to assist Australians stranded in the Middle East, though she acknowledged that evacuation efforts would be complicated by widespread airspace closures.
“We understand how distressing and challenging this time is, and we will do all that we can to provide you with information and to support you. The situation is very challenging,” she told reporters in Canberra.
Approximately 115,000 Australians are currently in the region, according to Wong, who said the most practical option for returning home would likely depend on the resumption of commercial airline services. She declined to confirm whether the government was preparing dedicated repatriation flights.
“There is conflict in the region, we’ve seen loss of life across the region and airspace is not open. So whether or not it is an Australian flight or a commercial flight, the flights are not able to occur,” she said.
Air travel to and from the Middle East — a key transit hub for Australians travelling to Europe and Asia — remained heavily disrupted on Monday, with major carriers including Emirates and Etihad cancelling some services from Australia.
Defence Minister Richard Marles said the government had taken steps to safeguard about 100 Australian defence personnel stationed at Al Minhad Air Base near Dubai. The facility is used to support United Nations missions and regional operations.
As regional violence intensifies, Canberra’s priority remains the safety of its citizens and personnel, while maintaining its stance of non-involvement in the widening conflict.
Melissa Enoch
About the Author
