Marco Rubio and Penny Wong consider ‘way through' Middle East conflict
Foreign Minister Penny Wong discusses Australia's embassy in Iran closing down amid a deteriorating security environment.
'Overnight, I spoke with my American counterpart, Secretary Marco Rubio,' Ms Wong said at a media conference on Friday.
'We had a good discussion about the way through this conflict.
'There is an opportunity over the next two weeks for de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy.'
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AU Financial Review
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Iran's envoy warns Australia to stay out of Middle East war
Iran's top local diplomat has warned against Australia supporting any US escalation of air strikes against his country's nuclear program, saying American intervention would widen the war and threaten commercial shipping in the Persian Gulf and Red Sea, two major arteries for the world's oil supply. In an interview with AFR Weekend, ambassador Ahmad Sadeghi said any attempt to assassinate Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as Israel's defence minister has suggested, would also be met with a fierce response.
News.com.au
2 hours ago
- News.com.au
Penny Wong stresses AUKUS ‘benefits' in call with Marco Rubio
The country's chief diplomat has stressed the 'benefits' of AUKUS in a call with US State Secretary Marco Rubio amid concerns Washington could be looking to pull out of the defence pact. The US Department of Defence earlier this month announced it was reviewing AUKUS to ensure it aligned with Donald Trump's 'American first' agenda. The Albanese government has brushed off concerns the 30-day audit signalled waning US support for the deal with Australia and the UK, with Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles repeatedly calling it a 'natural' move. But with AUKUS the centrepiece of Australia's defence strategy over the first half of this century and Anthony Albanese yet to secure a face-to-face with the US President, it has offered little reassurance. Foreign Minister Penny Wong said on Friday she and her US counterpart discussed 'the importance of our partnership to stability, peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific'. 'I have outlined … the benefits to all countries, all three countries of the AUKUS agreement – an agreement which I think is so important for strategic balance in the region,' Senator Wong told reporters in Adelaide. 'That means protecting peace, preventing conflict, and assuring prosperity and security for all countries. 'I've also outlined, just as the Prime Minister has, the near-term benefits to the United States, including additional maintenance days and more days in the water for more submarines.' She refused to give a read on whether Mr Rubio backed the deal, only saying that 'he's on record as understanding the importance of AUKUS'. 'But obviously we'll work through the review with the United States,' Senator Wong said. 'It's unsurprising that they would engage in a review just as the United Kingdom did.' Canberra has already spent billions laying the groundwork to acquire and build nuclear-powered submarines and train personnel to crew them under AUKUS. Washington has committed to supply up to five Virginia-class submarines starting in 2032. But sluggish submarine production has put the US on track to face a shortage early next decade. Mr Trump can renege on AUKUS commitments if they endanger US national security. To help bolster production, Australia has agreed to inject $4.6bn into the US defence industrial base.
SBS Australia
3 hours ago
- SBS Australia
SBS News In Easy English 20 June 2025
Welcome to SBS News Easy English. I'm Biwa Kwan. The White House says United States President Donald Trump will decide within the next two weeks whether to strike Iran. Although, it also confirmed Mr Trump still sees a "substantial" chance that negotiations can achieve U-S and Israeli demands on Iran's nuclear program. White House Press secretary Karoline Leavitt says Mr Trump has warned Iran to immediately shut down its nuclear enrichment operations and any other potential for producing nuclear weapons. Reporter:" What makes him think there's still a substantial change, is my question." Karoline Leavitt: "I'm not going to get into the reasoning and the rationale. The president believes that, but that's his position, and he will a decision within next two weeks." Australia has suspended operations at its embassy in Iran's capital and ordered the departure of all Australian officials, due to the deteriorating security environment. Foreign Minister Penny Wong says Australia's ambassador to Iran will remain in the region to support the government's response to the crisis. Evacuation of Australians from Israel and Iran organised by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade are underway. Around 1,200 Australians in Israel are seeking to leave, while 2,000 Australians in Iran have registered for assistance. Australian Yigal Kedam in Tel Aviv told SBS News he is grateful to be leaving the country now. "With the borders closing, the airport closing, basically we have had to look for other options to get home, and I have to say the Australian embassy has been really, really helpful in providing the options that we are now here for." Australian universities have dropped in the latest world universities rankings list. The report measures student experience, global partnerships, research opportunities and the quality of teaching. The University of Melbourne retained its position as the top-rated Australian institution, but it dropped six places against overseas educational facilities - from 13th to 19th in the world. The University of New South Wales dropped one place to 20th, while Sydney University fell seven spots to rank 25th. Despite the drop in rankings, Group of Eight chief executive Vicki Thomson says the results remained impressive, with about a quarter of Australia's 40 universities listed in the world's top 200. Thousands of people have gathered at Victoria's Parliament House to greet the state's truth-telling commissioner Travis Lovett, as he completed his 508-kilometre walk across the state. More than 12,000 people joined the Aboriginal leader along the 25-day Walk for Truth from Portland in the state's West to Melbourne. The walk marks the end of Australia's first formal truth-telling process of the impacts of colonisation on First Nations Australians. The Yoorrook Justice Commission's four-year long inquiry will formally conclude at the end of the month, and the thousands of hours of evidence collected from Aboriginal Victorians will contribute to an official public record. Levi Power, a member of the First People's Assembly of Victoria says it's a significant chance for change. "We must have these truths told to guide these decisions and to guide our journey forward, not only for this first treaty but going into the future as well." New Zealand has paused almost $17 million in funding to the Cook Islands. New Zealand has criticised the Cook Islands for a lack of transparency over deals made with China. It says China needs to restore trust before New Zealand signs off any new funding. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, who's visiting China and will have a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, is demanding answers. "The Cook Islands Government, as we have been very open from the beginning, the beginning of this year, was not transparent and open about it's international agreement that it did, in this case, with China, through the comprehensive strategic partnership. We want to make sure that any risks are well managed, we have obligations under the agreements, as New Zealand, with a realm country that need to be upheld and as a result that transparency is really important. As a result, we've suspended some of the aid money until we can get clarity on those issues." Australia's unemployment rate remained steady at 4.1 per cent in May. The data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows around 2,500 jobs were lost from the economy, despite forecasts that 20,000 jobs would be gained after 89,000 jobs were created in April. But employment was still up by 2.3 per cent compared with this time last year, which was stronger than pre-pandemic levels. The Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Amanda Rishworth, says the full-time employment data reflects a resilient jobs market. "It is encouraging that we have continued to see strong full-time jobs growth, with this month recording more than 38,000 full-time jobs. And full-time employment remains at a record high." Thanks for listening. This is SBS News in Easy English.
