Moore-Gilbert’s release a diplomatic feat well done

Australians would be as one in rejoicing at the release of academic Kylie Moore-Gilbert from imprisonment in Iran. In a grim year of pandemic and rising great power tensions, Dr Moore-Gilbert’s release is a bright spot. Considerable credit is due to the Morrison government and to Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade officials for painstakingly maintaining the sensitive dialogue with Iran, and for behind-the-scenes efforts throughout the affair. As Ben Packham and Richard Ferguson report, the head of Australia’s intelligence community, Nick Warner, led a secret year-long effort to secure Dr Moore-Gilbert’s release in a prisoner swap deal with Iran. Mr Warner used back-channel contacts to negotiate with the Iranian regime, while Australian ambassador to Thailand Allan McKinnon lobbied Thai officials to release three Iranian terrorists to exchange for the University of Melbourne lecturer. Dr Moore-Gilbert was serving 10 years on trumped-up espionage charges.

Particular credit is due to Mr Warner and Mr McKinnon. Mr Warner served as Australia’s ambassador in Tehran in the mid-1990s and has maintained key relationships with Iran’s ruling elite. The Thai-speaking Mr McKinnon — a former deputy chief of Operation Sovereign Borders — also played an integral role in the strategy, which was hatched at least 12 months ago.

Scott Morrison expressed relief on Thursday at the end of Dr Moore-Gilbert’s 804-day ordeal, much of it in conditions Australians would regard as subhuman. But the Prime Minister wisely refused to confirm that the Iranian terrorists released by Thailand — who were serving sentences for the attempted murder of Israeli diplomats in 2012 — were swapped for Dr Moore-Gilbert. Commenting on the circumstances of her release, as Mr Morrison said, could endanger “the Australians who may from time to time find themselves in this situation”. Another sovereign state making a decision about the release of prisoners is a matter for them, he insisted. But in reiterating warnings to Australians not to travel to Iran, Mr Morrison and Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne revealed a glimpse of the realpolitik behind their relief.

Iranian security expert Behnam Ben Taleblu, from the Washington-based Foundation for Defence of Democracies, said the outcome of Dr Moore-Gilbert’s case would embolden Tehran to engage in further hostage-taking. And, while welcoming the “joyous” release of Dr Moore-Gilbert, Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council executive director Colin Rubenstein said the three freed Iranians “will again present a threat of terrorist violence to innocent people”. The episode demonstrated Iran’s “ruthless and indefensible behaviour”.

Relief over Dr Moore-Gilbert’s release should not give way to illusions about the odious nature of the Iranian theocracy. As a medium power, Australia has limited leverage outside our immediate region, especially in dealing with a sophisticated revisionist power such as Iran. Iran is the most serious threat to Middle East peace. It has resolutely rejected recent positive developments in the stance of Sunni Gulf states towards Israel. The mullahs continue to threaten the existence of the only democratic state in the region. They continue to arm and train Hamas and Hezbollah terrorists in their operations in the West Bank. Their ruthless Revolutionary Guards support surrogate forces in the civil war in Yemen and in the residue of the Syrian war. Their navy intermittently engages in unprovoked harassment of vessels attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman. Iran, alarmingly, has developed strategic cyber capabilities and remains committed to the acquisition of nuclear weapons. The malign nature of the theocracy in Tehran was evident in its customary belligerent language denouncing “Zionist” influences and continuing to insist that Dr Moore-Gilbert was an operative for two intelligence agencies.

For her part, Dr Moore-Gilbert was magnanimous in expressing her fondness for the people of Iran: “I have nothing but respect, love and admiration for the great nation of Iran and its warm-hearted, generous and brave people,” she said. “It is with bittersweet feelings that I depart your country, despite the injustices which I have been subjected to. I came to Iran as a friend and with friendly intentions, and depart Iran with those sentiments not only still intact but strengthened.” She has a deep interest in Iranian culture and society. And the Iranian people are not synonymous with the mullahs who have ruled since the revolution that ousted Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi in 1979. Indeed, there is a groundswell of discontent with the ruling oligarchy.

No liberal democratic government willingly abandons citizens to arbitrary detention in a nation such as Iran. Australia, being inexperienced with prisoner swaps, must always be judicious in the methods we employ to secure the safety of those who take risks voluntarily. It is to be hoped this is the end of this saga and not a precursor to more treachery by Iran or to violence by those released in Thailand.