Former prime minister Scott Morrison backs US strikes on Iran, slams Albanese government's ‘ambiguity'
Former prime minister Scott Morrison has thrown his support behind US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, calling the operation a "necessary event".
US President Donald Trump ordered strikes against three Iranian nuclear facilities on Sunday (Australian time), escalating the Middle East conflict to new heights.
Mr Morrison told Sky News on Sunday that the strikes would help to bring peace, and accused the Albanese government of failing to take a clear stance on the conflict.
'This was a necessary event. There were no other options available to the president,' Mr Morrison said.
'This has been the most decisive and the most comprehensive action to terminate that threat.'
The former prime minister also criticised the Albanese government for its unclear position on the Iran-Israel conflict.
'It's time for some clarity. I think there's been far too much ambiguity about this from Australia, far too much ambiguity, and it's time for clarity.'
Defence Minister Richard Marles earlier had refused to directly back possible US strikes and instead reiterated the government's call for 'de-escalation'.
Pressed on whether Australia supported the bombing of Iranian nuclear sites, Mr Marles repeatedly avoided a direct answer.
'Uh, uh. Um, I'm... articulating the Australian government's position. That's the only thing I can articulate.'
'We have used our voice to urge de-escalation. And that's our position in respect of both the Iranian program, but also… in respect of this conflict,' he said.
While acknowledging that Iran's nuclear ambitions were 'concerning' and 'a threat to peace and stability,' Mr Marles declined to endorse any US military response.
The exchange followed Foreign Minister Penny Wong's shifting position on Australia's attitude toward the Israel-Iran conflict.
The government has faced criticism in recent weeks for its slow and cautious responses to Iranian aggression and its measured language toward Israel.
Shadow energy minister Dan Tehan told Sky News Sunday Agenda that the Albanese government has 'isolated themselves' from the Israeli government.
'I think that has left them in a situation where they're really trying to walk two sides here,' Mr Tehan said.
'I think what we need to see from the government is greater moral clarity as to whether they do, once and for all, want to see Iran rid of its nuclear weapons program.'
Liberal Senator and former ambassador to Israel Dave Sharma recently criticised Ms Wong for initially calling for de-escalation and diplomacy.
'Part of the reason for this war is the failure of dialogue… there have been multiple rounds of negotiations held with Iran,' Mr Sharma told Sky News.
'I don't see much prospect for dialogue.'
The US strikes on Sunday targeted Iran's key nuclear sites at Natanz, Esfahan, and Fordow.
President Trump confirmed the operation involved B-2 bombers, with six bunker-buster bombs used to destroy facilities buried deep in the mountains.
'Fordow is gone… Iran must now agree to end this war,' President Trump posted on Truth Social.
Mr Morrison praised the US response as a proportionate show of strength after all diplomatic avenues had failed.
'This is not something that I believe (Trump) wants to see widened. But this hopefully resolves that question of their nuclear capability,' he said.
The Albanese government has yet to formally comment on the US operation.
Sky News has contacted the Defence Minister for comment.
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News.com.au
40 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Scott Morrison says Albanese government not showing enough 'clarity' on Israel-Iran conflict
Former prime minister Scott Morrison has accused the Albanese Labor government of not showing enough 'clarity' on the Israel-Iran conflict. Speaking on Sky News on Sunday, Mr Morrison urged Labor to back the United States' attack on Iran's nuclear sites, after Donald Trump deployed a series of strikes on the country's three nuclear sites in Fordow, Natanz and Esfahan. 'I think there's been far too much ambiguity about this from Australia, far too much ambiguity, and it's time for clarity,' Mr Morrison said. 'And the clarity is we were dealing with a theocratic authoritarian state that had sponsored an attack on close friends in Israel back on the seventh of October, and they have shown their true colours, and Iran is not a friend of Australia. It's not a friend of Australia's interests. 'We should be expressing no ambiguity when it comes to Iran.' Following Mr Trump's confirmation of the strikes, a government spokesperson said Labor has noted Mr Trump's statements, and reiterated the President's comments that 'now is the time for peace'. 'We have been clear that Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile program has been a threat to international peace and security,' they said. 'The security situation in the region is highly volatile. 'We continue to call for de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy.' They also urged the 2600 Australians in Iran and 1200 in Israel to monitor public safety information by local authorities and 'shelter in place when required'. 'The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will be communicating directly with registered Australians about preparations for assisted departures,' they said. Mr Morrison gave his firm backing of Mr Trump's decision to strike the three Iranian nuclear bases, saying the US were the 'only ones who could do it'. He said the move was done not to 'oppose some sort of regime change', but to end the threat of Iran's nuclear programs, and were 'totally justified given the threat that was faced'. 'This has been the most decisive and the most comprehensive action to terminate that threat,' Mr Morrison told Sky. 'This is not the place that President Trump would rather be. He has not rushed towards this and further, this is not about the US trying to oppose some sort of regime change, they have a very specific job here that they have undertaken.' In the wake of the strikes, Mr Trump urged the Iranian regime to 'make peace' or risk 'greater' and 'easier' attacks. 'There will be either peace or there will be tragedy for Iran, far greater than we have witnessed over the last eight days,' he said. 'Remember, there are many targets left. Tonight's was the most difficult of them all by far, and perhaps the most lethal. 'But if peace does not come quickly, we will go after those other targets with precision, speed and skill. 'Most of them can be taken out in a matter of minutes.' Earlier on Sunday, Defence Minister Richard Marles said the government remained concerned about the prospect of escalation and continued calls for dialogue, denying claims the government was trying to distance itself from the US. However he acknowledged Israel's 'right to defend itself', and the 'risk that the Iranian nuclear and ballistic missile program represents to both the region and the stability of the world'. He said the Department of Foreign Affairs remained alert in trying to evacuate the thousands of Australians caught in Iran and Israel. 'We do have civilian aircraft chartered ready to go in the event that airspace opens up over Iran and Israel, and right now that is the biggest constraint here, that both airspace over both countries is closed,' he said. 'We have a C-17 and a KC-30 which both can take hundreds of passengers placed in Al Minhad (in the United Arab Emirates), which is just outside of Dubai.' Mr Marles said the staff at Al Minhad had been increased from 'about 40, to 'about 300'. Greens Leader Larissa Waters said the US strikes on Iran were a 'terrifying and catastrophic escalation by the USA,' and called on Mr Albanese to condemn the actions. 'From Iraq to Afghanistan, we have seen Australia follow the US into devastating and brutal wars that have done untold damage to the people of the Middle East. We know that you cannot bomb your way to peace,' she said. Greens defence and foreign affairs spokesman David Shoebridge said Australia should distance itself from the US' actions, including withdrawing from the AUKUS defence pact. 'That means ending the AUKUS agreement, prohibiting the use of US military bases in Australia, including Pine Gap, from being used in this conflict, and clearly opposing military action by the US and Israel against Iran,' he said. 'Like every war, the cost will not be carried by governments, but by people, families and communities who face destruction. 'The impact of war is always inflicted on ordinary people. The Iranian people, who currently face oppression under the Iranian regime, are only put at further risk of violence and persecution by these US and Israeli attacks.'
Sky News AU
41 minutes ago
- Sky News AU
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley expresses support for US strikes on Iran, calls for solidarity against nuclear threat
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has expressed support for US President Donald Trump's military strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities. President Donald Trump confirmed on Sunday (Australian time) that US forces had hit three of Iran's principal nuclear sites, including Fordow, Natanz and Esfahan. While the Albanese government has called for 'de-escalation', the federal opposition has expressed strong support for the United States' military actions. 'The Coalition supports actions taken by the United States of America to ensure that the Iranian regime is stopped from acquiring nuclear weapons,' Ms Ley said. 'It was made clear by the International Atomic and Energy Agency on June 12 that Iran was in breach of its Non-Proliferation Treaty obligations.' Under the treaty, Iran was prohibited from attempting to acquire, manufacture, or otherwise obtain nuclear weapons. The Islamic Republic had since stockpiled more than 400 kilograms of 60 per cent enriched uranium at the Fordow facility. This was understood to be the last step in enrichment before Iran was able to produce a nuclear weapon. 'The world can never accept a nuclear-armed Iranian regime and today the United States military has taken proactive action to ensure that we never need to,' Ms Ley said. 'A nuclear armed Iranian regime would be a serious and direct threat to world peace and stability. The Coalition stands with the United States of America today. 'We can never allow the Iranian regime the capacity to enact its objectives of the destruction of the United States and Israel.' The Albanese government also issued a carefully worded statement on Sunday calling for 'de-escalation and diplomacy'. 'We have been clear that Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programme has been a threat to international peace and security," a government spokesperson said. 'The security situation in the region is highly volatile. We continue to call for de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy.' The statement also warned Australians in the region to follow public safety advice and confirmed that DFAT was providing support. Former prime minister Scott Morrison told Sky News that the US strikes were 'necessary' and accused the Albanese government of 'ambiguity' in its response. 'This was a necessary event. There were no other options available to the (US) president,' Mr Morrison said. "It's time for some clarity (from the Albanese government). I think there's been far too much ambiguity about this from Australia." Defence Minister Richard Marles had refrained from giving an explicit position on any US strikes earlier on Sunday. 'We are worried about the prospect for escalation here and we've been urging de-escalation,' Mr Marles said prior to the attack. The US strikes mark a dramatic escalation in the volatile conflict between Israel and Iran. President Trump said the attacks were 'very successful' and declared that the underground Fordow facility was 'gone' after bunker-buster bombs were dropped. 'This was an amazing success tonight… They should make peace immediately or they'll get hit again,' he said.
Sydney Morning Herald
an hour ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Masterstroke or mistake? Trump defies his base and seizes the moment to strike Iran
Washington: Five months after the starter's gun fired on Donald Trump's second presidency, he has made his most consequential decision. Perhaps not just the most consequential decision of his presidency but of several, given the decision to bomb Iran's nuclear facilities was one faced by many of his predecessors, who ultimately opted against the idea. The merits of this cannot and will not be known today, not until the damage to the three Iranian sites has been assessed and the regime's retaliation, whatever that may be, has taken place. But politically, this move fundamentally changes the shape of the Trump presidency. The accusation of timidity and indecision – Trump Always Chickens Out (TACO) – that has so irritated him in recent months can no longer be credibly levelled. Did that irksome critique contribute to his resolve? We don't know. But it is becoming clearer that Trump has followed a predetermined path, or at the very least, seized on an opportunity with relish – and along the way, obscured his intentions to America and the world. Loading It was not true on Thursday when Trump told Iran that he would decide within two weeks whether to intervene. It is looking increasingly untrue that Israel, when it kicked off this offensive nine days ago, acted unilaterally and without US involvement, as we were told at the time. 'We worked as a team like perhaps no team has ever worked before,' Trump said on Sunday, AEST, of the US and Israel. Of Iran's state-sponsored terrorism, he said: 'I decided a long time ago that I would not let this happen.' His short speech after the US attack contrasted starkly with his rhetoric on Iran over the past weeks and months. Gone was the language of diplomacy, the love for the Iranian people, the optimism that it's never too late for a deal.
