Luxon condemns Iran attack, urges de-escalation
Prime Minster Christopher Luxon says escalation in the Middle East is the “last thing the region needs”, after he condemned the Iran attack on Israel.
Iran has launched hundreds of drones, ballistic missiles and cruise missiles in an unprecedented revenge mission that pushed the Middle East closer to a regionwide war, wire agencies have reported.
The attack marked the first time Iran has launched a direct military assault on Israel, despite decades of enmity dating back to the country’s 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Condemnation from the United Nations chief and others was swift, with France saying Iran “is risking a potential military escalation,” Britain calling the attack “reckless" and Germany saying Iran and its proxies “must stop it immediately".
Luxon heard of the news while on the Air Force plane travelling to Singapore. While on a stopover in Cairns in Queensland, he told media he was concerned about an increase in conflict.
“We joined with the international community and condemning Iran’s attack on Israel. We are concerned deeply because we do not want to see a wider escalation of conflict within the region and we urge all sides to actually de-escalate, to show restraint. And ultimately, to make sure that you don’t have wider conflict within the region. It’s very important.
“We really want to see a de-escalation of conflict in that region. The last thing that’s needed now is a widening of that conflict.”
Diplomacy was now needed, he said. “It needs people to get around the negotiation table and get back into the Middle East peace process.”
Luxon said the New Zealand Defence Force staff were safe and there were 101 New Zealanders registered in Israel on Safe Travel.
Advice on travel has been upgraded to “do not travel” to Israel.
In a letter to the UN, Iran said its attack was self defence, after an April 1 strike, which Iran accused Israel of an attack on its Damascus consulate.
Meanwhile, Luxon said he had sent a message of support to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese following the mall attack in Sydney that claimed six lives.
Queensland man Joel Cauchi, 40, has been named as the man who went on a stabbing spree at Sydney’s Bondi Junction Westfield, before police shot him dead. Five women and one man were killed.
“Australia is family and our thoughts are really very much with the families that are waking up this morning who have lost loved ones and dealing with the main sense of heartbreak, loss, absolute despair, grief, and our thoughts and prayers are with them at this time,” Luxon said.