Australian embassy staff in Tehran and Tel Aviv are safe and accounted for amid escalating conflict in the Middle East, Richard Marles says.
Australians in the region should seek shelter in place, monitor the Smartraveller website and, if necessary, contact consular authorities, the deputy prime minister said.
“We are able to report that our embassy staff in both Tehran and Tel Aviv are all accounted for and are safe,” he told reporters in Geelong on Saturday.
“There are a small number of Australian Defence Force personnel within the region. They, too, have all been accounted for and are safe but we will continue to monitor their ongoing safety.”
Iran and Israel are targeting each other with missiles and air strikes after the latter launched its biggest-ever air offensive against its longtime foe in a bid to prevent it developing a nuclear weapon.
Australia was deeply concerned about the unfolding hostilities and specifically about the risks of escalation, Mr Marles said.
“We well understand the threat that Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile program represents.
“That program is a threat to international peace and security but because of this, we are calling on all parties to prioritise dialogue and diplomacy.”
The government was expressly calling on Iran to exercise restraint so as not to risk broader conflict, he said.
Israel hit dozens of sites on Friday as tensions soared after a United Nations agency found Iran was not complying with its nuclear non-proliferation obligations.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said from Fiji on Friday he was conscious of the threat posed if Iran became a nuclear state.
“We want to see these issues resolved through dialogue and the United States have been playing an important role there,” he said.
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said on Saturday the targeting of population centres by Iran was “deeply troubling”.
“The Iranian regime’s ability to acquire nuclear weapons poses a serious and direct threat to world peace and stability, especially as it continues to engage in terrorism by supporting its proxies: Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in southern Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen,” she said in a statement.
“Whilst we continue to urge caution, Israel has a right to defend itself.
“Israel is exercising its sovereign right to defend its people and ensure the security of future generations. The world can never accept a nuclear-armed Iran.”
US President Donald Trump on Thursday warned there was a “chance of massive conflict” involving Iran as Washington began pulling diplomats out of the Middle East.
Senior lecturer in international relations at Flinders University Jessica Genauer said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to attack Iran was likely driven by domestic concerns.
“Netanyahu faces political dissatisfaction with his handling of the Hamas-Israel war,” she said.
“Recent suggestions that Trump is turning away from a close friendship with Netanyahu is further eroding Netanyahu’s popularity.
“By attacking Iran, Netanyahu hopes to reinforce the fear of an external threat to Israel – and support for his government as competent and tough on security.”
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