Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has declared Australia will not play a military role in the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran.
Mr Albanese told reporters in Seattle, USA, on Sunday that the government’s focus was on protecting Australian citizens in Iran and Israel.
Iran and Israel have continued to trade rocket fire over the weekend, after senior Iranian military officials and nuclear scientists were killed in targeted strikes.
“Australia does not play a role in this military conflict,” Mr Albanese said at a press conference.
“I wouldn’t expect that there would be a request for Australia to play a military role, but we will continue to play a role in terms of looking after Australian citizens.”
Mr Albanese confirmed that no requests for military support had been made by international partners, despite moves by the UK to reposition forces in the region.
His comments come amid growing global concern about a full-scale war erupting in the Middle East after a series of deadly strikes and counter-strikes between Israel and Iran.
The violence began after Israel bombed Iranian nuclear facilities, followed by Tehran’s retaliation involving drone and missile attacks.
Israel’s Ambassador to Australia Amir Maimon warned against underestimating the threat posed by Iran and rejected diplomatic calls for restraint.
“History has shown what happens when the world ignores regimes that preach hatred, promise annihilation, and are left to build the means to carry it out,” he said.
“Iran isn’t hiding its intent, it declares it. And it’s building the weapons to fulfil it… Yet some still urge diplomacy, as if words can stop warheads.
“Israel cannot afford the illusion that existential threats are empty words. We have a duty to act, to protect our people.”
More than 70 people were reported killed in Tehran on the first day of Israel’s offensive, including 60 civilians when a 14-storey apartment tower was destroyed by a missile.
Iran responded with a barrage of over 100 drones and has accused Israel of striking key infrastructure, including the Shahran oil depot.
The Israeli Defence Force confirmed its Air Force was “striking military targets in Tehran,” while simultaneously intercepting incoming missile fire.
Mr Albanese said Australian officials were monitoring the situation closely and working to support citizens in the region.
“There’s an issue with people getting out of the region,” he said.
“We have issued as well a ‘Do Not Travel’ to the region, to Israel, as well as to Iran, and would encourage, obviously, people to take that up.”
He confirmed that events in the Middle East will be discussed during upcoming G7 meetings with world leaders, including US President Donald Trump.
“I’m sure that the events obviously that are occurring in the Middle East will be a topic of conversation,” he said.
