Liberal Andrew Hastie's grim prediction moments before Donald Trump confirmed Iran strike
Coalition home affairs spokesman Andrew Hastie made a grim prediction on the future of the Israeli-Iran conflict, stating that 'diplomacy will probably fail' and we would likely 'see a strike of some sort'.
Moments later, Donald Trump confirmed the US had 'completed our very successful attack' on three nuclear sites in Iran, dropping a 'full payload of bombs' on Fordow – a uranium enrichment site buried 90m inside a mountain.
Two other nuclear sites in Natanz and Esfahan were also targeted.
Posting on Truth Social at 9.40am Sunday, the US President confirmed the planes were now 'outside of Iran air space' and were 'safely on their way home'.
Opposition home affairs spokesman Andrew Hastie's comments on a likely strike from the US came moments before Donald Trump confirmed news on Truth Social. Picture: Richard Dobson / NewsWire
His comments come just days after he said a decision would likely come 'within the next two weeks'.
Appearing on ABC's Insiders on Sunday, Mr Hastie – a former SAS commander – said while he hoped negotiations would see Iran willingly stand down its nuclear programs and subject themselves to independents inspections, he feared it would escalate further.
'We have to take this seriously. Iran is a deeply ideological regime, committed to the destruction of Israel. The supreme leader said he wants to wipe Israel off the map,' he told host David Speers.
'I suspect diplomacy will probably fail and we will see a strike of some sort (in) the next two weeks.
'It will be tough for innocent people caught in the war.'
'It's sometimes better the devil you know'
Asked about the ramifications of the US involvement amid the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, Mr Hastie warned a collapse of the Iranian regime could cause 'large-scale migration and refugees across the world' and a power vacuum in the Middle East.
'If there's one lesson that I take out of Iraq and Afghanistan and Libya, be careful what you wish for,' he said.
'You know, it's sometimes better the devil you know.
'Particularly for stability once those structures of order - as bad as they might be under a tyrannical regime like that in Iran - when there is no order at all and it's just chaos, it's a very dangerous situation for the people of Iran, but also the rest of the world.'
Acknowledging the US could not 'pull up the drawbridge' and roll up decades of economic, diplomatic, and strategic interest, Mr Hastie said any decision was ultimately one for Mr Trump.
He also warned of the risks posed by Iran's nuclear program.
'One thing is clear, if you're Iran and you survive this conflict with your regime intact and the nuclear program intact, I think you're going to move at best speed to build a bomb to put yourself in the strongest position the next time this happens,' he said.
'Who knows how they would use a nuclear weapon if they got one? It wouldn't just be for Israel potentially.'
Mr Hastie also backed the Labor government's approach to date, which has focused on calling for further dialogue between the US, Iran and Israel, while also condemning Iran for its nuclear programs.
'I think broadly speaking they've made it clear, Iran shouldn't get a nuclear weapon,' he said.
'Israel has a right to self-defence. We want to see this war ended quickly. That's mine and the Coalition's position.
'I think Foreign Minister (Penny) Wong made that clear as well.'
Read related topics: Donald Trump
Jessica Wang
NewsWire Federal Politics Reporter
Jessica Wang is a federal politics reporter for NewsWire based in the Canberra Press Gallery. She previously covered NSW state politics for the Wire and has also worked at news.com.au, and Mamamia covering breaking news, entertainment, and lifestyle.
@imjesswang_
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However, the American strikes have also been labelled as a "terrifying and catastrophic escalation" with the Greens warning further violence from Israel or the US would impact ordinary Iranian civilians. Former Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said Australia's respond to the bombings would be defining."Australia should welcome US bombing of Iran's nuclear program," Mr Downer said on X. "We've been a US ally since 1951 as well as a consistent supporter of nuclear non-proliferation." About 2600 Australians in Iran are seeking assisted departures from the region, alongside about 1200 in Israel as the government urges travellers not to venture to either nation. Staff from the Department of Foreign Affairs have been evacuated from the Tehran embassy and are helping Australians leave through the border in Azerbaijan. Mr Sinodinos warned the future of Iran was uncertain as strikes could lead to the collapse of the country's regime. 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However, the American strikes have also been labelled as a "terrifying and catastrophic escalation" with the Greens warning further violence from Israel or the US would impact ordinary Iranian civilians. Former Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said Australia's respond to the bombings would be defining."Australia should welcome US bombing of Iran's nuclear program," Mr Downer said on X. "We've been a US ally since 1951 as well as a consistent supporter of nuclear non-proliferation." About 2600 Australians in Iran are seeking assisted departures from the region, alongside about 1200 in Israel as the government urges travellers not to venture to either nation. Staff from the Department of Foreign Affairs have been evacuated from the Tehran embassy and are helping Australians leave through the border in Azerbaijan. Mr Sinodinos warned the future of Iran was uncertain as strikes could lead to the collapse of the country's regime. Australia is considering its next steps after one of its closest allies joined with Israel to bomb Iran, exacerbating volatility in the Middle East. After days of growing escalation, the US unleashed strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities on Sunday (AEST) as President Donald Trump declared "there will be peace, or there will be tragedy for Iran". The Australian government has urged all parties to prioritise diplomacy and dialogue since Israel first launched strikes in mid June. Though some have raised questions over whether Australia should do more to support its ally, former ambassador to the US Arthur Sinodinos said the government was unlikely to get involved in combat. "There's no way we would put troops on the ground," he told AAP. "I don't think the government or the political establishment here are suggesting that we just follow whatever the US is going to do. "I'd be very surprised if there's anybody saying that we, automatically as a result of what the US has done, are now part of that conflict." Australia has previously provided some resources around shipping lanes but during the recent outbreak of violence, the government has refused to even entertain the possibility of military involvement. When Foreign Minister Penny Wong revealed the government would deploy defence assets to assist evacuation efforts, she repeatedly emphasised that they were not there for combat purposes. And in the immediate aftermath of the US strikes, a government spokesperson said they "note the US president's statement that now is the time for peace" while continuing to call for de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy. While the coalition has insisted it does not want war, acting foreign affairs spokesman Andrew Hastie said the opposition supported the US bombings and claimed it was a "necessary action to take". However, the American strikes have also been labelled as a "terrifying and catastrophic escalation" with the Greens warning further violence from Israel or the US would impact ordinary Iranian civilians. Former Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said Australia's respond to the bombings would be defining."Australia should welcome US bombing of Iran's nuclear program," Mr Downer said on X. "We've been a US ally since 1951 as well as a consistent supporter of nuclear non-proliferation." About 2600 Australians in Iran are seeking assisted departures from the region, alongside about 1200 in Israel as the government urges travellers not to venture to either nation. Staff from the Department of Foreign Affairs have been evacuated from the Tehran embassy and are helping Australians leave through the border in Azerbaijan. Mr Sinodinos warned the future of Iran was uncertain as strikes could lead to the collapse of the country's regime.
