Australian news and politics live: Government ‘concerned' Israel-Iran conflict could broaden, says Marles

West Australian

12 hours ago

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Israel has confirmed that the IDF completed strikes on Iranian weapon production sites.
'Iranian Regime weapon production sites haven been been struck and degraded,' the IDF wrote on X.
'Earlier today, the IDF completed a wide-scale wave of strikes on numerous weapon production sites belonging to the Quds Force, the IRGC and the Iranian military, in Tehran.'
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and US President Donald Trump will use their first direct meeting at the G7 to build on their 'rapport,' said acting Prime Minister Richard Marles.
'It's an important meeting. It'll be the first face-to-face meeting between the President and the Prime Minister … in any meeting of this kind, establishing that rapport initially is really important,' he told ABC Radio National Breakfast.
'The personal relationship between two leaders matters. And, you know, I've spoken with the Prime Minister after he's had his calls with President Trump, and I think there is already a rapport in place between the two of them.'
Mr Marles said Australia would continue to press its case for a carve-out from sweeping US tariffs and stress the strategic importance of AUKUS as the Pentagon undergoes a review of the $368b nuclear-powered submarine program.
Iran's official IRNA news agency has issued confirmation that an Israeli strike has killed Mohammed Kazemi, chief of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, along with two other generals.
'Three intelligence generals, Mohammad Kazemi, Hassan Mohaghegh and Mohsen Bagheri were assassinated and fell as martyrs,' the IRNA said.
Australia is worried about the 'potential for escalation' in the Middle East as casualties mount in the latest conflict between Israel and Iran, acting Prime Minister Richard Marles has said.
'We are very worried about the potential for escalation here. Obviously, the way in which this has unfolded over the last few days has been a matter of deep concern, and we are worried about this going to a place of being a broader conflict,' he told ABC Radio National Breakfast.
'That is why we are exercising our voice, along with countries like the United States, like France, Germany, the UK, to urge for diplomacy and dialogue in this moment.'
Ten people and more than 100 have been injured in Israel by Iranian airstrikes, while the Iranian media, citing the health ministry, reported that 224 Iranians had been killed and 1,277 injured by Israel's bombardment.
Mr Marles said all Australian diplomats and defence personnel in the region were safe and accounted for and urged Australian citizens in both countries to shelter in place due to closed airspace.
The Iranian Health Ministry has confirmed 224 Iranians have been killed, with over 1200 seriously injured by Israeli attacks.
'After 65 hours of aggression by the Zionist regime, 1,277 people have been injured,' ministry spokesperson Hossein Kermanpout wrote on X.
'224 women, men and children have been martyred.'
Iran has intensified its retaliatory action against Israel after a 'pre-emptive' attack on Friday, fueling an erupting war.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has appealed to her Israeli counterpart Gideon Sa'ar for de-escalation and restraint as the conflict between Israel and Iran continues to escalate.
Senator Wong urged Mr Sa'ar to return to dialogue and diplomacy in a telephone call on Sunday evening, echoing similar messages from Australian allies, including the US, UK, Germany and Canada.
Speaking on ABC Insiders on Sunday morning, the Foreign Minister warned of a 'perilous' situation in the Middle East, revealing that she had also urged the Iranian foreign minister to exercise restraint.
But Israeli ambassador to Australia, Amir Maimon, issued a statement cautioning that the world could not ignore regimes that 'preach hatred, promise annihilation, and are left to build the means to carry it out.'
He added: 'Some still urge diplomacy, as if words can stop warheads.'
Minister for Social Services, Tanya Plibersek, has revealed what Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and US President Donald Trump will speak about when they meet face-to-face.
'I know the Prime Minister's looking forward to the first face-to-face meeting with the President since the election,' Ms Plibersek told Sunrise.
'They've had three successful phone calls, of course, a face-to-face meeting is something to look forward to. Of course, they will be discussing defence, including AUKUS and tariffs as well.
'We're already increasing our defence spending. We're increasing our defence spending by $10.6 billion over the next four years alone and around $60 billion over the next decade.
'But the way we decide what we spend on defence is to work out what we need to defend our country, and then spend that much money. We don't pick a number out of the air and then work out what we can buy with it.'