Labor pleas for Trump to de-escalate in Middle East
Australia has called for de-escalation, a month after the US-Israel launched its first attack on Iran, acknowledging the impact it would have on the global and domestic economy.
Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong said de-escalation was necessary after US President Donald Trump threatened to blow up Iran’s energy infrastructure if a deal to end the war was not reached overnight.
As the ongoing fuel crisis gripped Australia and prices soared, he encouraged peace talks to end the war.
“We believe that if we can see tensions ease and these talks lead to an end to the conflict, that will be a good thing for the global economy and for Australians and there will be certainty for the world,” Senator Wong told ABC TV. he said.
Mr. Trump wrote on Truth Social that “great progress” had been made in the talks, but said that if an agreement was not reached, the United States would strike Kharg Island, the center of 90 percent of Iran’s oil exports.
Senator Wong’s calls echo Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s message to Mr Trump on Monday night that he wanted to see the war end because the US had achieved most of its initial goals.
He said on ABC’s 7.30 program that Mr Trump needed to outline a timetable for ending the conflict.
The Prime Minister said: “Conflict always has a price and the conflict has achieved its initially stated objectives and we want to see, I think people want to see an end point.” he said.
Senator Wong said Australia would not send troops on the ground if the US went ahead with its plans.
“Our stance is defensive, not offensive,” he said.
“We’ve made that very clear and provided a defensive capability when Iran chooses to attack countries that are not party to attacking Iran.”
Australia deployed an E7A Wedgetail surveillance aircraft and 85 personnel to the Middle East on 10 March for an initial four-week period; the government claims this is not a “major military operation”.
Senator Wong also confirmed that more than 103 direct commercial flights carrying approximately 10,400 Australians have arrived home since March 4.
He added that Australians in the Middle East should not delay their departure and leave on commercial flights.
“While talks are taking place to end the conflict, the situation in the Middle East remains unstable and could deteriorate rapidly,” Senator Wong said. he said.
Australians are also urged not to travel via Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Kuwait, Lebanon, Palestine, Qatar, Syria, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
