United front on Tehran

Labor, opposition condemn inflammation of tensions

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has led condemnation of Iran after it launched a barrage of missiles and armed drones towards Israel.

In a statement on Sunday, the Prime Minister labelled the escalation as a grave threat to the security of Israel and the entire region.

“It risks greater instability and devastation across the Middle East. Australia continues to support regional security, including that of Israel,” Mr Albanese said.

Labor’s Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy urged Iran to “take a step back” following its retaliatory strike.

“Iran has an opportunity to reverse their course of being a malign actor in the region, and we will be applying all diplomatic pressure to that end,” Mr Conroy told Sky News’ Sunday Agenda.

However, Mr Conroy indicated the government would not be providing any further military assistance beyond the ADF’s current support to US forces to help deter attacks by Yemen-based Houthi rebels.

“We’ve been focused on supporting the efforts of allies and like-minded partners to prevent escalation of the conflict … that’s our level of involvement at the moment.”

Treasurer Jim Chalmers warned the Iranian strikes risked inflaming the conflict and called on Tehran to instead use its power to help bring stability to the region.

“We’ve seen enough bloodshed in the Middle East already. We don’t want conflict in the Middle East to be broader and deeper than it already is,” Dr Chalmers’ told the ABC’s Insiders program.

“We’ve already seen enough lives lost, and that’s why these developments are so incredibly concerning to us.

“It would be much better if the Iranians used their influence in the region to try and calm tensions rather than inflame them.”

Opposition immigration spokesman Dan Tehan called on the government to offer Israel “all the support we can”, as Iran had “no ability” to bring stability to the Middle East. “Their sovereignty once again is at risk, and we need to be doing what we can to support them,” Mr Tehan said.

“We have to stand with Israel with our key allies at this time that they’re under serious, serious attack.

“I hope that the government and in particular, the Prime Minister will show leadership at this time and come out and defend Israel’s sovereignty.”

Jewish Liberal MP Julian Leeser called on the government to close Australia’s Iranian embassy. “Australia has nothing in common with Iran, we must cut ties with this despotic regime,” Mr Leeser said.

Tensions have flared across the Middle East as Israel’s attacks on Hamas operatives inside Gaza enter a seventh month, killing tens of thousands according to local authorities, in response to a bloody incursion by Hamas in Israel that killed some 1200 people in early October.