8 hours ago
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.
