Aussie forces could help secure critical oil route
Protecting against missile and drone attacks and relieving pressure on the Strait of Hormuz could be the role of Australian forces if they are deployed to the Middle East.
Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong confirmed that the government had received requests for assistance from allies who were attacked during the Iranian attacks.
Other military requests are also being considered, although the minister has said Australia will not be part of any ground troop deployments.
“As a result, you can imagine that we have been asked for help, and we will work carefully on this,” Senator Wong said on Sunday.
“I am confident that if a decision is made we will be transparent with the Australian people.”
Following the attacks in which the country’s leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed, Iran launched attacks on neighboring countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Bahrain, under the leadership of the USA and Israel.
Jennifer Parker, an expert associate at the Australian National University’s national security college, said Australian forces would likely be called in to ease pressure on the militaries of allied regimes.
“I suspect we will try to assist with missile and drone detection and potentially missile and drone interception,” he told AAP.
“We may consider deploying warplanes to the region to defend the Gulf countries against these attacks. This would probably be the most effective deployment for Australia.
“This presents some challenges in terms of highlighting that it was used for defensive rather than offensive roles.”
Australian forces could also be used to support oil imports from the Strait of Hormuz, through which one-fifth of the world’s oil supply passes.
Following the attacks, Iran blocked access to the strait, which led to an increase in gasoline and diesel prices.
Ms Parker said sending Australian defense personnel to the region was unlikely to put them at greater risk of attack.
“Australia is already considered an ally with the United States and so because of that relationship, Iran will see Australians as targets in the same way as some Gulf countries,” he said.
