In his first comments since news broke of the nuclear strike on Iran, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has reiterated the government’s support of the attack.
Yesterday, US President Donald Trump announced the “successful” bombing of three Iranian nuclear facilities, namely in Natanz, Esfahan, and “the primary site” of Fordow.
Now, in a media address, Albanese endorsed the move in response to the threat posed by Iran’s nuclear program, while calling for “dialogue and diplomacy” in the region.
“The world has long agreed that Iran cannot be allowed to get a nuclear weapon and we support action to prevent that – that is what this is,” Albanese said.
“The US action was directed at specific sites central to Iran’s nuclear program.
“We don’t want escalation and a full-scale war.”
The PM went on to urge Iran to come to the negotiating table regarding its nuclear operations, saying the country previously “repeatedly failed to comply with its international obligations”.
“We urge Iran not to take any further action that could destabilise the region,” he added.
Albanese said he had not spoken to Trump since the strike, before Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong said the government is continuing to work with Australians stranded in Iran and Israel.
It adds to the government’s ongoing response to Trump’s strike, with a spokesperson yesterday calling for “de-escalation” but stopping short of explicitly endorsing the bombings.
Senior Minister Tanya Plibersek then walked back the government’s neutral response earlier this morning, saying it “support[s] the strikes” but does not “want to see full-scale war in the Middle East”.
Meanwhile, the Coalition said yesterday it endorsed the move because “the world can never accept a nuclear-armed Iranian regime”, while the Greens said the government “must condemn” the strike.
In the US, Trump’s move was met with both condemnation and support from both sides of the political aisle.
Lead image: 9News
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