Australia Backs US-Led Push for Negotiated Middle East Outcome: Wong

Wong said the Australian government was working closely with the United States, with expectations of an achievable outcome as the ceasefire deadline looms.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong during Senate Estimates at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia on Feb. 27, 2025. AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong said Australia supports the United States’ efforts to secure a negotiated outcome in the Middle East.

The news comes as a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran is set to expire on April 22, with President Donald Trump signalling it is unlikely to be extended.

During an interview with Sky News Australia, Wong said the Australian government was working closely with the United States, with expectations of an achievable outcome.

“Ultimately, we continue to work with the Americans and engage with them very closely, particularly military to military, but also diplomatically,” she said.

“We also want to see, as they do, a negotiated outcome that resolves the passage through the Strait so that the world economy and global energy markets and Australians at the bowser can get back to normal.”

When asked whether she had confidence in Trump’s handling of the situation, Wong did not give a direct answer, saying the United States under his presidency would be “a very different America.”

“We know that power President Trump envisages, the role of America in the world differs very greatly from many past administrations,” she said.

“And I’ve also said one of the things that President Trump himself has said is one of his characteristics and one of his tactics is unpredictability. And we’ve certainly seen unpredictability.”

The minister was also asked whether she thought the conflict could spiral out of control. Wong responded: “This is an inherently risky situation.”

“Of course it is. I think we’ve seen that. We’ve seen announcements of the Strait opening, announcements of the Strait closing. We’ve seen a fragile ceasefire. The point I have made is that ceasefire is fragile,” she said.

“The world needs it to hold, and we need to try to get to a negotiated outcome, and we hope that the United States and Iran can find a negotiated outcome which enables this conflict to come to an end.”

Trump Signals Hard Line Ahead of Ceasefire Deadline

On April 20 (U.S. time), Trump warned that he may not extend the ceasefire unless a deal is reached before it expires on April 22.

He also expressed optimism that an agreement is achievable and could be stronger than the 2015 nuclear deal struck under former President Barack Obama.

“The deal that we are making with Iran will be far better than the JCPOA [Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action], commonly referred to as ”The Iran Nuclear Deal“ ... one of the worst deals ever made having to do with the security of our country,” he said on Truth Social. 

Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance is expected to lead a U.S. delegation alongside Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and special envoy Witkoff for talks in Pakistan ahead of the deadline.

Trump recently told reporters at the Whitehouse he was not happy with Australia because “they were not there when we asked them to be there.”

“Australia was another one. They were not there having to do with Hormuz,” he said.

“I’m not happy, I’m not happy with them.”