Close to 2,000 Australians are stranded in the Middle East and seeking to leave as tensions escalate between Israel and Iran.
More than 1,000 Australians have registered for evacuation from Israel and 870 from Iran, Treasurer Jim Chalmers shared on June 18.
“We’re obviously working very closely with those Australians via the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade,” Chalmers told RN Breakfast.
“We’re monitoring developments in that very dangerous part of the world closely. Our major focus is on the human cost of this escalating conflict.”
Chalmers added that the government’s immediate focus is assisting Australians who have requested evacuation from the “very perilous, very dangerous” region.
On June 16, Foreign Minister Penny Wong confirmed that contingency options were being developed, although commercial flights remained suspended due to missile threats.
“I understand how concerned, how distressed many Australians are,” Wong said. “Particularly those in Israel or Iran—how worrying this situation is, and how frightening it is.”
Missile Strikes and Nuclear Warnings Raise Stakes
The conflict escalated on June 13 after Israel launched an airstrike inside Iranian territory.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the strike was aimed at dismantling what he called a nuclear infrastructure posing an “existential threat to Israel.”
The strike followed a warning from the International Atomic Energy Agency that Iran had breached its obligations under the global non-proliferation treaty. It also came just days before Iran was set to resume nuclear talks with the United States.
Wong, Albanese Call for Calm
Wong reiterated calls for restraint, saying she had directly conveyed Australia’s position to counterparts in both nations. She added that key allies such as the UK, France, and Canada shared Australia’s stance.“No one doubts the threat Iran poses,” she said. “But we don’t want to see an escalation which leads to … dire consequences for the people of the region.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, speaking from the G7 summit in Canada, also called for a diplomatic resolution.
“Iran gaining the capacity for nuclear weapons would be a threat to regional security,” he said. “We want to see a priority on dialogue and diplomacy.”
DFAT continues to urge citizens, permanent residents, and eligible family members needing help to register on the Smartraveller website.
The agency warns Australians not to travel to Israel or Iran and to follow all local authority instructions if already in the region.
