Foreign Minister Penny Wong spoke to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio this morning about the Middle East conflict and its global impacts.
They discussed ways to ensure the safe passage of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has essentially cut access to.
“Secretary Rubio and I discussed the conflict in the Middle East and the Iranian regime’s escalating reprisal attacks, particularly on civilian and energy infrastructure,” Wong said in a statement.
“I expressed Australia’s condemnation of Iran’s deliberate attacks on merchant vessels in and around the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s actions have triggered severe global energy shocks, causing oil and fuel prices to surge, which is putting pressure on households, industries and supply chains.
“We agreed that the international community must keep working together to ensure critical waterways are not held hostage by the Iranian regime.
“Australia does not want to see the conflict continue to escalate.”
The US has called for countries to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz but Australia denied being formally asked to do so.
The prime minister earlier today said he was not out of step with his key allies after Australia was not a signatory on a joint statement by the UK, European countries and Japan on the Strait of Hormuz.
