Australia is contemplating military assistance for Persian Gulf nations as conflict in Iran escalates. A senior figure within the Albanese government has privately suggested that the US-led war against Iran will likely last only “weeks, not months.” Since hostilities commenced over a week ago, all six Gulf States—Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar—have sustained Iranian strikes targeting civilian infrastructure, including airports.
On October 1, 2023, Australia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong confirmed that several Gulf nations have requested protection against drone and missile attacks launched by Iran. “Many countries who are non-participants have been attacked by Iran through this,” Wong stated in an interview with ABC TV. She emphasized that while Australia has been asked for assistance, any support will be aligned with the government’s stance of not engaging in offensive military actions against Iran.
The Foreign Minister declined to specify what form of support Australia might provide but reiterated that any involvement would focus on protecting national interests and ensuring the safety of Australians. “What we’ve said is we support action to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and we support action to prevent Iran from continuing to threaten international peace and security,” Wong added.
Military experts indicate that Australia’s options for providing support in the Middle East are limited. The nation’s counter-drone capabilities are still developing, and deploying a warship would require considerable time. Wong made it clear that any Australian military presence would not include ground troop deployment into Iran. “This is not Iraq, and we are not the Howard government. We are not asking Australians to accept Australian men and women to be deployed in a ground war,” Wong stated, reinforcing the government’s position.
Following these remarks, the Coalition party sought a briefing regarding potential deployment of Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel to the Middle East for defensive roles. Shadow Defence Minister James Paterson remarked, “Australia had a proud record of standing with our allies and friends in times of crisis, and the Coalition will carefully consider any deployment proposals in the national interest once briefed,” as reported by The West.
Wong also criticized the United Nations Security Council for its failure to prevent the conflict, asserting that military action would not have been necessary had the body held Iran accountable for its nuclear program. “Of course we would have preferred UN Security Council authority for the action that has been taken, but the UN Security Council has not been able to hold Iran to account,” she said.
While the Australian government deliberates on sending additional military assets and personnel to the region, it has been reported that Defence Minister Richard Marles expressed a belief in a private gathering that the Iran conflict would conclude “in weeks.” Sources from the event shared that Marles suggested the conflict could worsen before it improves. His office declined to comment on the private remarks but noted that Marles had previously aligned his views with those of US President Donald Trump regarding the conflict’s duration.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have claimed their ability to sustain an “intense war” for at least six months. According to a statement from the state-run Fars news agency, spokesperson Ali Mohammad Naini asserted that the Iranian Armed Forces are actively targeting more than 200 locations associated with American and Israeli facilities in the region.
The recent escalation in hostilities has already impacted Australian military operations. Last week, it was revealed that an airfield used by Australian troops in the UAE was struck by drone attacks during the initial hours of the conflict, although no personnel were reported injured.
As Australia navigates its response to the ongoing crisis, the situation remains fluid, with the potential for further developments in both military and diplomatic realms.
