Wong says Israel has right to self-defence, but urges restraint as Iran pounded
Israel has the right to defend itself, Foreign Minister Penny Wong says, but she has dodged questions over whether its surprise bombardment of Iran is a breach of international law.
Seeking to hamper Iran's attempts to develop military-grade nuclear capability, Israel struck military facilities, nuclear scientists, a major gas facility that exports internationally and other targets in a two-day barrage that Iran says has killed 78 people.
Iran retaliated with missile launches of its own that killed four people in Israel, with the US helping to shoot down a number of incoming missiles.
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has threatened Iran to expect worse to come.
It has prompted fears of all-out war in the region, and forced Iran to cancel discussions due to be held with the US on its nuclear program.
The foreign minister told ABC Insiders she had spoken with Iran's foreign minister and the Israeli government through its ambassador, urging both to show restraint.
"We urge restraint because whatever people's views about what has occurred to date, what happens tomorrow matters to all peoples in the region," Senator Wong said.
"I directly put to the Iranian foreign minister: 'We are saying to you, exercise restraint, return to diplomacy and dialogue,' because continuing to escalate this has consequences for all peoples of the region and I think that is a position that so many countries in the world are putting to not only the Iranians, but also to the Israelis."
Pushed on whether Israel's attack was legal, the senator said that was not the key concern at hand.
"Israel has a right to self-defence. The question here is not a legal proposition, the question here is what do we do now? We know Iran is a threat. We know that its nuclear program poses a threat to international peace and obviously to Israel," she said.
"What do we do about it?"
Senator Wong warned the situation was "perilous" and "very risky", and expressed her thoughts for Australians and their families in Israel and Iran.
A 24-hour consular emergency service has been stood up within the Foreign Affairs Department.
The foreign minister said advice was to shelter in place, noting that airspace above the countries was currently closed.
"Obviously that informs the advice we are giving," she said.
The minister also noted the cancellation of separate talks that were due to be held on progressing a two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinian Territories, that would see Palestine recognised as a sovereign nation.
"We're so far from that right now," she said,
"There is a lot more work to be done in the time ahead."
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'Distressing': Hundreds of Aussies trying to flee Iran and Israel
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SBS Indonesian 16/06/2025 09:13 Israel and Iran are continuing to strike each other as the death toll from the weekend reaches hundreds, with many more injured. The strikes come as Group of Seven leaders meet in Canada, with the current escalations expected to dominate talks. Listen to SBS Indonesian every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday at 3 pm. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to our podcasts .
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French President Emmanuel Macron made a distinction last week between Israel's right to protect itself, which France supports and could take part in, and strikes on Iran it did not recommend. Israel's defence ministry said it had categorically rejected the order to remove some weapons systems from displays, and that exhibition organisers responded by erecting a black wall that separated the Israeli industry pavilions from others. This action, it added, was carried out in the middle of the night after Israeli defence officials and companies had already finished setting up their displays. "This outrageous and unprecedented decision reeks of policy-driven and commercial considerations," the ministry said in a statement. Rafael described the French move as "unprecedented, unjustified, and politically motivated," adding it fully supported the Israeli ministry of defence's decision not to comply with the order to remove some equipment from display. 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French President Emmanuel Macron made a distinction last week between Israel's right to protect itself, which France supports and could take part in, and strikes on Iran it did not recommend. Israel's defence ministry said it had categorically rejected the order to remove some weapons systems from displays, and that exhibition organisers responded by erecting a black wall that separated the Israeli industry pavilions from others. This action, it added, was carried out in the middle of the night after Israeli defence officials and companies had already finished setting up their displays. "This outrageous and unprecedented decision reeks of policy-driven and commercial considerations," the ministry said in a statement. Rafael described the French move as "unprecedented, unjustified, and politically motivated," adding it fully supported the Israeli ministry of defence's decision not to comply with the order to remove some equipment from display. France has shut down the four main Israeli company stands at the Paris Airshow for apparently displaying bombs and other offensive weapons, in a move condemned by Israel that highlights the growing tensions between the traditional allies. A source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Monday that the instruction came from French authorities after Israeli firms failed to comply with a direction from a French security agency to remove offensive or kinetic weapons from the stands. The stands were being used by Elbit Systems , Rafael, IAI and Uvision. Three smaller Israeli stands, which didn't have hardware on display, and an Israeli Ministry of Defence stand, remain open. France, a long-time Israeli ally, has gradually hardened its position on the government of Benjamin Netanyahu over its actions in Gaza and military interventions abroad. 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