Foreign Minister Penny Wong has spoken out following Iran’s strikes on US bases in Qatar.
‘Australia condemns Iran’s strikes on US bases in Qatar and Iraq,’ she said.
‘We do not want to see further escalation. A full-scale war in the Middle East would be devastating for the people of the region and the world.
‘Australia continues to call for de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy.’
Closure of airspace around transit hubs in the Middle East could impact flights globally, she warned.
‘Australians travelling should seek updates from their airlines and follow @Smartraveller.’
Wong’s swift response to the strikes came after the government wavered in its endorsement of the US bombing of nuclear sites in Iran over the weekend.
It took 24 hours for Anthony Albanese to explicitly support the US military action – initially, the government had issued a statement calling for ‘dialogue’.
‘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 on Monday.
‘We issued a statement yesterday,’ he told reporters on Monday when asked about the delay.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has spoken out following Iran ‘s strikes on US bases in Qatar
