Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has declared that Australia supports United States efforts to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, following the launch of American and Israeli military strikes against Iranian targets ordered by US President Donald Trump.
In a statement issued hours after Washington confirmed the beginning of what Trump described as “major combat operations in Iran,” Albanese condemned the Iranian regime as “without legitimacy,” citing its internal repression and destabilising regional conduct.
“The regime has instigated a brutal crackdown on its own people, leaving thousands of Iranian civilians dead,” Albanese said. “A regime that relies on the repression and murder of its own people to retain power is without legitimacy.”
While the Prime Minister did not explicitly reference the US–Israel strikes, he affirmed Australia’s support for action aimed at preventing Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons and threatening international security.
“Australia supports the United States acting to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and to prevent Iran continuing to threaten international peace and security,” he said.
Albanese also referred to alleged Iranian-linked activities in Australia, including two attacks on Jewish synagogues in 2024. He stated that those incidents were intended to “create fear, divide our society and challenge our sovereignty.”
In response to those events, Australia expelled Iran’s ambassador and formally listed the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organisation.
The Prime Minister further described Iran as a “destabilising force” due to its ballistic missile development and nuclear program, calling the regime a “threat to world peace.”
“The international community has been clear that the Iranian regime can never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon,” Albanese added. “Australia stands with the brave people of Iran in their struggle against oppression.”
Opposition Leader Angus Taylor issued a stronger denunciation, describing Iran’s government as “authoritarian, antisemitic and abhorrent.” In a statement posted on X, Taylor accused Tehran of seeking nuclear weapons, backing militant proxy groups including Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis, and supplying weapons to Russia for use in its war against Ukraine.
“It wants nuclear weapons, seeks the destruction of Israel, has encouraged terrorism through its proxies… and has supplied weapons to Russia to support Putin’s invasion of Ukraine,” Taylor wrote. “We pray for the Iranian people at this time.”
The developments come amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, after President Trump announced the commencement of large-scale military operations targeting Iran. Trump warned that American lives could be lost in the action and urged Iranian officials to “lay down arms or face death.”
The situation remains fluid as international leaders monitor the unfolding conflict and assess its broader regional implications.
