Australia backs U.S. strike on Iran, urges return to diplomacy

Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Canberra supports the U.S. strike on Iran and calls for de-escalation and diplomacy.

Speaking to reporters in Canberra on Monday, Albanese stated: “The world has long agreed that Iran cannot be allowed to get a nuclear weapon, and we support action to prevent that.”

He stressed that Iran’s enrichment of uranium to 60 percent was clear evidence of a program beyond civilian use.

The International Atomic Energy Agency reported on 31 May that Iran had enough 60% enriched uranium for nine nuclear weapons if further enriched.

Australia closed its embassy in Tehran on Friday after Foreign Minister Penny Wong consulted with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Following the U.S. strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities, Australia suspended bus evacuations from Israel but is preparing for possible evacuations if airspace reopens.

Two Australian defence planes have been deployed to the Middle East in non-combat roles to assist with civilian evacuations.

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