‘Iran has a choice': Foreign Minister Penny Wong shifts tone amid Middle East conflict crisis
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has sharply escalated her language toward Iran, declaring the regime 'has a choice' and must 'discontinue any nuclear program'.
Ms Wong's stern warning comes amid growing pressure on the Albanese government to take a tougher stance amid rising Middle East tensions.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Defence Minister Richard Marles and Ms Wong had all previously called for 'de-escalation' and 'dialogue' from Israel, as well as Iran.
But the Foreign Minister on Thursday shifted the focus to Iran's role in de-escalating the conflict.
'It's time—beyond time—for Iran to come back to the negotiating table, for Iran to agree to discontinue any nuclear program,' Ms Wong told ABC News Breakfast on Thursday.
'It is in the interests of the Iranian people and in the interests of the people of the region for Iran to return to dialogue and diplomacy.
'Iran has a choice here… And the choice should be to return to the table and engage in dialogue and diplomacy. It must stop any production of nuclear weapons."
The remarks mark a notable hardening in tone following criticism earlier in the week that her initial response to escalating threats from Tehran was too passive.
Ms Wong also dodged questions around the government's response if US President Donald Trump asked Australia to get involved in the conflict.
'We're not a central player in the Middle East,' she said, but did not rule out the possibility of Australia joining the conflict as part of a coalition.
The government has been far more categorical in its response to suggestions of Australian military involvement, in contrast to the Foreign Minister's comments on Thursday.
When asked a similar question on Sunday, Mr Albanese said: "Australia does not play a role in this military conflict".
As of Monday, Ms Wong appeared to be questioning Israel's response to Iran's counter strikes in the Middle East conflict.
'We have, Australia has, been part of the pressure that has been applied to the Iranian regime in relation to their nuclear program,' she said on Monday.
'The question is, what do you do about it? Is your response going to risk dire consequences of the region.
'Our call for diplomacy, for dialogue, for de-escalation, is the same call that is being made by the United Kingdom, by Canada, by France.'
That cautious approach drew criticism from key allies and domestic politicians, who argued she must take a firmer stand against Iran's growing threat.
Israeli Ambassador to Australia Amir Maimon said Tehran had long demonstrated it could not be trusted to negotiate in good faith.
'Iran isn't hiding its intent, it declares it. And it's building the weapons to fulfil it,' Israel's Ambassador, Mr Maimon, said in a statement on Sunday.
'Through its pursuit of nuclear arms, Iran has turned this into an asymmetric conflict, between a democracy seeking to defend itself and a regime bent on destruction.
'Yet some still urge diplomacy, as if words can stop warheads.'
Chair of the of Senate's Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee Dave Sharma told Sky News on Monday that dialogue had so far failed and that 'the war will continue'.
Liberal Senator Hollie Hughes said it was 'absolutely ridiculous' for Australia to call for talks between Iran and Israel, two nations with no diplomatic relations since 1979.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
9 News
39 minutes ago
- 9 News
Hundreds of CFMEU members take to Brisbane streets after High Court ruling
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here BREAKING Iranian death toll tops 600 Hundreds of CFMEU members marched through Brisbane this morning in a last-minute protest against the forced administration of the union. It caught peak hour commuters off guard, with police forced to step in to quickly shut down roads so the action could take place safely. The group was protesting yesterday's High Court rejection of the CFMEU's attempt to appeal the union's forced administration. Hundreds of CFMEU members marched through Brisbane this morning in a last-minute protest against the forced administration of the union. (Brisbane Times) Members argued the Queensland branch never had any allegations made against it and shouldn't be included in the federal government takeover. The construction division's administrator Mark Irving told 9News the High Court decision is final. "I have advised staff and members that any action this morning is likely to be unlawful industrial action, and I have directed them to return to work," he said. "I urge everyone to stay calm and focus on getting on with the job. "It is time for all members, delegates and staff to work together to return the union to membership control." Today's protest was more than four hours long, as multiple speakers addressed the crowd. Union members are now threatening to walk off the job for 48 hours until administrators meet with the Queensland branch. Brisbane Union Unions queensland national CONTACT US
Canberra Times
an hour ago
- Canberra Times
Too much huffing from the AUKUS caucus
Those who say Albo should have been prepared to risk becoming a punching bag for Trump in the bear pit of the Oval Office seem to ignore the reality that such an outcome would be at least as bad for Australia as for the PM personally. A collapse in bilateral civility before the world's media could end up affecting trade, the ANZUS alliance, and Australian access to top-shelf education, medical science and digital technologies, let alone access to lucrative US markets.
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
Israel helping evacuate Australians amid Iran conflict
Israel is helping Australia evacuate its citizens as its bombing campaign against Iran continues, the country's ambassador says. The first group of Australians fleeing the conflict crossed a land border out of Israel on Wednesday, assisted by the federal government. Israeli ambassador Amir Maimon said he was personally involved in the Australian government's efforts to get people out. "We are assisting the Australian government in every possible way," he told reporters on Thursday. Israel's top diplomat in Australia said it was important to emphasise that the conflict with Iran was not about regime change. "It is not for the State of Israel to decide about the nature of the regime in Iran, it is for the Iranian people," he said. "We are focused on the military targets that were set." For Australian mother-of-three Emily Gian, life in the days since Israel launched strikes on Iran and triggered waves of missile fire in retaliation has been spent in and out of underground bunkers. "We could hear it so loud that my kids thought that it was near our house," Ms Gian told AAP on Wednesday. "It's a really loud boom. You feel the house shake." But unlike earlier conflicts with Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis, Ms Gian said the strikes from Iran came with the added fear that the nation was believed to be working on nuclear weapons. "There's always been a fear in Israel that an escalation with Iran is the ultimate and scariest escalation that could be," she said. But she won't flee. "Our plans are to stay here for now because we live here, our house is here, our life is here, our work," Ms Gian said. Melbourne lawyer Leon Zweir, who is in Jerusalem attending a conference, has registered with DFAT to be repatriated but will not leave until the event ends on Thursday. He said the mood of Israelis was "resolute", despite the missiles flying overhead. Amid concerns the US could enter the conflict, about 1200 Australians in Israel have registered with the Department of Foreign Affairs for help to leave, while 1500 Australians and family members have sought help to leave Iran. Foreign Minister Penny Wong said a small group left Israel via a land crossing on Wednesday and that the department is looking for more ways to evacuate Australians. "Obviously, the situation on the ground is fluid," she told ABC News on Thursday. Evacuation was riskier in Iran, where the advice for Australians was to shelter in place if there was no opportunity to leave safely. The conflict began on Friday after Israel moved to wipe out Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile program, claiming the Islamic Republic was on the verge of developing nuclear weapons. US President Donald Trump has since met his national security council and demanded that Iran unconditionally surrender, adding he knew where Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was hiding. Iran has warned of "all-out war" if the US joins the fray. Senator Wong said the Iranian regime threatened the stability of the Middle East. "It's time, beyond time for Iran to come back to the negotiating table, for Iran to agree to discontinue any nuclear program," she said. Israeli strikes on Iran have killed at least 639 people and wounded 1,329 others, according to Washington-based group Human Rights Activists, while Israel said at least 24 civilians had been killed. Israel is helping Australia evacuate its citizens as its bombing campaign against Iran continues, the country's ambassador says. The first group of Australians fleeing the conflict crossed a land border out of Israel on Wednesday, assisted by the federal government. Israeli ambassador Amir Maimon said he was personally involved in the Australian government's efforts to get people out. "We are assisting the Australian government in every possible way," he told reporters on Thursday. Israel's top diplomat in Australia said it was important to emphasise that the conflict with Iran was not about regime change. "It is not for the State of Israel to decide about the nature of the regime in Iran, it is for the Iranian people," he said. "We are focused on the military targets that were set." For Australian mother-of-three Emily Gian, life in the days since Israel launched strikes on Iran and triggered waves of missile fire in retaliation has been spent in and out of underground bunkers. "We could hear it so loud that my kids thought that it was near our house," Ms Gian told AAP on Wednesday. "It's a really loud boom. You feel the house shake." But unlike earlier conflicts with Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis, Ms Gian said the strikes from Iran came with the added fear that the nation was believed to be working on nuclear weapons. "There's always been a fear in Israel that an escalation with Iran is the ultimate and scariest escalation that could be," she said. But she won't flee. "Our plans are to stay here for now because we live here, our house is here, our life is here, our work," Ms Gian said. Melbourne lawyer Leon Zweir, who is in Jerusalem attending a conference, has registered with DFAT to be repatriated but will not leave until the event ends on Thursday. He said the mood of Israelis was "resolute", despite the missiles flying overhead. Amid concerns the US could enter the conflict, about 1200 Australians in Israel have registered with the Department of Foreign Affairs for help to leave, while 1500 Australians and family members have sought help to leave Iran. Foreign Minister Penny Wong said a small group left Israel via a land crossing on Wednesday and that the department is looking for more ways to evacuate Australians. "Obviously, the situation on the ground is fluid," she told ABC News on Thursday. Evacuation was riskier in Iran, where the advice for Australians was to shelter in place if there was no opportunity to leave safely. The conflict began on Friday after Israel moved to wipe out Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile program, claiming the Islamic Republic was on the verge of developing nuclear weapons. US President Donald Trump has since met his national security council and demanded that Iran unconditionally surrender, adding he knew where Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was hiding. Iran has warned of "all-out war" if the US joins the fray. Senator Wong said the Iranian regime threatened the stability of the Middle East. "It's time, beyond time for Iran to come back to the negotiating table, for Iran to agree to discontinue any nuclear program," she said. Israeli strikes on Iran have killed at least 639 people and wounded 1,329 others, according to Washington-based group Human Rights Activists, while Israel said at least 24 civilians had been killed. Israel is helping Australia evacuate its citizens as its bombing campaign against Iran continues, the country's ambassador says. The first group of Australians fleeing the conflict crossed a land border out of Israel on Wednesday, assisted by the federal government. Israeli ambassador Amir Maimon said he was personally involved in the Australian government's efforts to get people out. "We are assisting the Australian government in every possible way," he told reporters on Thursday. Israel's top diplomat in Australia said it was important to emphasise that the conflict with Iran was not about regime change. "It is not for the State of Israel to decide about the nature of the regime in Iran, it is for the Iranian people," he said. "We are focused on the military targets that were set." For Australian mother-of-three Emily Gian, life in the days since Israel launched strikes on Iran and triggered waves of missile fire in retaliation has been spent in and out of underground bunkers. "We could hear it so loud that my kids thought that it was near our house," Ms Gian told AAP on Wednesday. "It's a really loud boom. You feel the house shake." But unlike earlier conflicts with Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis, Ms Gian said the strikes from Iran came with the added fear that the nation was believed to be working on nuclear weapons. "There's always been a fear in Israel that an escalation with Iran is the ultimate and scariest escalation that could be," she said. But she won't flee. "Our plans are to stay here for now because we live here, our house is here, our life is here, our work," Ms Gian said. Melbourne lawyer Leon Zweir, who is in Jerusalem attending a conference, has registered with DFAT to be repatriated but will not leave until the event ends on Thursday. He said the mood of Israelis was "resolute", despite the missiles flying overhead. Amid concerns the US could enter the conflict, about 1200 Australians in Israel have registered with the Department of Foreign Affairs for help to leave, while 1500 Australians and family members have sought help to leave Iran. Foreign Minister Penny Wong said a small group left Israel via a land crossing on Wednesday and that the department is looking for more ways to evacuate Australians. "Obviously, the situation on the ground is fluid," she told ABC News on Thursday. Evacuation was riskier in Iran, where the advice for Australians was to shelter in place if there was no opportunity to leave safely. The conflict began on Friday after Israel moved to wipe out Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile program, claiming the Islamic Republic was on the verge of developing nuclear weapons. US President Donald Trump has since met his national security council and demanded that Iran unconditionally surrender, adding he knew where Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was hiding. Iran has warned of "all-out war" if the US joins the fray. Senator Wong said the Iranian regime threatened the stability of the Middle East. "It's time, beyond time for Iran to come back to the negotiating table, for Iran to agree to discontinue any nuclear program," she said. Israeli strikes on Iran have killed at least 639 people and wounded 1,329 others, according to Washington-based group Human Rights Activists, while Israel said at least 24 civilians had been killed. Israel is helping Australia evacuate its citizens as its bombing campaign against Iran continues, the country's ambassador says. The first group of Australians fleeing the conflict crossed a land border out of Israel on Wednesday, assisted by the federal government. Israeli ambassador Amir Maimon said he was personally involved in the Australian government's efforts to get people out. "We are assisting the Australian government in every possible way," he told reporters on Thursday. Israel's top diplomat in Australia said it was important to emphasise that the conflict with Iran was not about regime change. "It is not for the State of Israel to decide about the nature of the regime in Iran, it is for the Iranian people," he said. "We are focused on the military targets that were set." For Australian mother-of-three Emily Gian, life in the days since Israel launched strikes on Iran and triggered waves of missile fire in retaliation has been spent in and out of underground bunkers. "We could hear it so loud that my kids thought that it was near our house," Ms Gian told AAP on Wednesday. "It's a really loud boom. You feel the house shake." But unlike earlier conflicts with Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis, Ms Gian said the strikes from Iran came with the added fear that the nation was believed to be working on nuclear weapons. "There's always been a fear in Israel that an escalation with Iran is the ultimate and scariest escalation that could be," she said. But she won't flee. "Our plans are to stay here for now because we live here, our house is here, our life is here, our work," Ms Gian said. Melbourne lawyer Leon Zweir, who is in Jerusalem attending a conference, has registered with DFAT to be repatriated but will not leave until the event ends on Thursday. He said the mood of Israelis was "resolute", despite the missiles flying overhead. Amid concerns the US could enter the conflict, about 1200 Australians in Israel have registered with the Department of Foreign Affairs for help to leave, while 1500 Australians and family members have sought help to leave Iran. Foreign Minister Penny Wong said a small group left Israel via a land crossing on Wednesday and that the department is looking for more ways to evacuate Australians. "Obviously, the situation on the ground is fluid," she told ABC News on Thursday. Evacuation was riskier in Iran, where the advice for Australians was to shelter in place if there was no opportunity to leave safely. The conflict began on Friday after Israel moved to wipe out Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile program, claiming the Islamic Republic was on the verge of developing nuclear weapons. US President Donald Trump has since met his national security council and demanded that Iran unconditionally surrender, adding he knew where Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was hiding. Iran has warned of "all-out war" if the US joins the fray. Senator Wong said the Iranian regime threatened the stability of the Middle East. "It's time, beyond time for Iran to come back to the negotiating table, for Iran to agree to discontinue any nuclear program," she said. Israeli strikes on Iran have killed at least 639 people and wounded 1,329 others, according to Washington-based group Human Rights Activists, while Israel said at least 24 civilians had been killed.
