Iran’s ambassador to Australia calls on Canberra to condemn Israel over strikes

Iran’s ambassador to Australia has made a huge call on the Albanese government as the conflict with Israel deepens.

The Iranian ambassador to Australia has demanded the Albanese government condemn Israel as “the aggressor” in the midst of ongoing rocket strikes between the two Middle Eastern powers.

Ahmad Sadeghi said Iran would only come back to the negotiation table with the United States and other Western powers if they condemned Israel’s strikes on the Islamic Republic.

“When it comes to the Australian position, we ask Australia … a friendly nation … to condemn,” he said in an interview with David Speers on 7.30.

Iran's ambassador to Australia Ahmad Sadeghi. Picture: X / @ahmad87051

He said “you have to have the punishment of the aggressor”.

“If you let it go unpunished (and) the prime minister of this regime (Benjamin Netanyahu) declared publicly and arrogantly that ‘I ordered such an attack against Iran’,” he said.

The demand comes after planned talks between Iran and the United States were scrapped when Israel launched what it referred to as “pre-emptive” missile strikes on Tehran on June 13.

The initial volley on targets related to the Iranian nuclear program has been followed by repeated exchanges of rocket fire and drone strikes between the two nations.

Multiple civilian and military casualties have been reported on both sides.

Mr Sadeghi also denied Iran was working on a nuclear weapons program.

Earlier, Foreign Minister Penny Wong demanded Iran ends its nuclear weapons program as the conflict with Israel continues to escalate, putting “thousands” of Australians in the region at mortal risk.

Donald Trump has hinted the US could intervene in the Middle East and called for the Iranian regime’s “unconditional surrender”.

The US President’s comments have sparked speculation he was mulling a direct strike on a major uranium enrichment facility nestled deep in a mountainous region of Iran.

Israel does not have the firepower to destroy the site – only the US has the bunker-busting bombs needed.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong on Wednesday refused to comment on whether Washington intervening would better the situation but said the onus was on Iran to “come to the table”.

US President Donald Trump has hinted the US could get involved in the spiralling conflict between Israel and Iran. Picture: Atta Kenare / AFP

“I have been clear, the world has been clear, that any nuclear weapons program by Iran is a risk threat to global peace and security, as well as the security of the region,” Senator Wong told Sky News.

“The fastest way out of the danger that the world sees, that the region is experiencing and that the Iranian people are suffering under, is for Iran to come to the table and to stop any nuclear weapons program.”

The US has been bolstering its military position in the Middle East, including by deploying a second aircraft carrier.

Mr Trump has also posted on social media that the US knew “exactly where the so-called “Supreme Leader” is hiding”, referring to Iran’s leader Ayotollah Ali Khamenei.

“He is an easy target, but is safe there – We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now,” he said.

“But we don’t want missiles shot at civilians, or American soldiers. Our patience is wearing thin.”

The thinly veiled warning came after he hastily bailed on the G7 summit in Canada and warned “everyone” to “evacuate Tehran”.

pic.twitter.com/VoUY2xVnyK

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 17, 2025

Senator Wong said the ball was in Iran’s court.

“Ultimately, the Iranian regime has to make a decision about whether it is going to continue down a path that is so perilous,” she said.

“As I’ll again say, Iran must come to the table, Iran must stop its nuclear weapons program.

“That is the fastest way out of the danger Iran and the world, the region and the people face at this point.”

Surge in evac requests

As of Wednesday morning, almost 2000 Australians were seeking government help to flee Israel and Iran.

The Albanese government has shut embassies across the Middle East, issued do not travel warnings and set up a national crisis team to assist citizens in the region.

Jim Chalmers said “more than 1000 Australians and family members in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories” had registered – more than tripling the number on Monday.

He said a further 870 had registered in Iran, where the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade have advised Australians to “shelter in place”.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers says nearly 2000 Australians are seeking evacuation from both Israel and Iran. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“We’re monitoring developments in that very dangerous part of the world very closely,” the Treasurer told the ABC.

“Obviously, our major focus is on the human cost of this escalating conflict.

“There are economic costs as well. We’re monitoring both of those things, and I’ll be briefed on all of that in the next hour or so.”

Earlier, Richard Marles said there were “thousands of Australians in both Iran and Israel” and that the Albanese government expected the number requests for help would rise.

Speaking to Sky, the Deputy Prime Minister said the “fundamental issue” with evacuating Australians was “that the airspace over both Iran and Israel in fact is closed”.

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles says the national crisis team is considering evacuations from Israel by land. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“But as soon as there is any opportunity to pursue an assisted departure, we will,” Mr Marles said.

He added that he could not “give a definitive answer” on when that might be.

“What we’re doing is really working up all the options that we’ve got available to us so that when there is an opportunity we are in a position to provide those assisted departures,” he said.

“And in the meantime … we are advising Australians in the region to shelter in place.”

Mr Marles also confirmed DFAT was considering evacuations from Israel by land through Jordan.

“There has been some efforts there, but fundamentally what we are looking at is providing assisted departures by air when there is an opportunity for that to occur,” he said.

“And so they are really the contingencies that we are working up right now.”

Originally published as Iran’s ambassador to Australia calls on Canberra to condemn Israel over strikes