{"id":590481,"date":"2026-04-07T03:55:12","date_gmt":"2026-04-07T03:55:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/590481\/"},"modified":"2026-04-07T03:55:12","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T03:55:12","slug":"need-to-answer-for-itself-ags-response-after-trump-lashes-out-at-nato-and-pacific-allies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/590481\/","title":{"rendered":"&#8216;Need to answer for itself&#8217;: AG&#8217;s response after Trump lashes out at NATO and Pacific allies"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>IN BRIEFDonald Trump has named Australia in a list of key allies accused of non-assistance during the ongoing war in Iran.He said that Iran could be &#8220;taken out&#8221; in one night &#8220;and that night might be \u200ctomorrow night&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"bodyParagaph\">A key Australian government minister has said the United States may have to go it alone after US President Donald \u200cTrump named Australia in a sprawling list of key military allies he criticised for not helping with its \u200cwar with Iran.<\/p>\n<p class=\"bodyParagaph\">Attorney-General Michelle Rowland said Australia&#8217;s position has been and remains to call for an &#8220;urgent de-escalation&#8221; of the war in the Middle East.<\/p>\n<p class=\"bodyParagaph\">She said repeating those calls is the best thing Australia could do, and that Trump had made inflammatory comments like this before.<\/p>\n<p class=\"bodyParagaph\">&#8220;I think ultimately the United States will need to answer for itself,&#8221; she told ABC radio.<\/p>\n<p class=\"bodyParagaph\">Trump again lamented NATO allies&#8217; refusal to get involved in reopening <a data-variant=\"textBodyLink\" class=\"Link_baseLink__646Cm EmbeddedLink_embedLink__VHy9W EmbeddedLink_nonAnchorLink__G8nc7\" data-clickevent=\"{&quot;elementType&quot;:&quot;LinkEmbed&quot;,&quot;clickURL&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/news\/article\/strait-of-hormuz-tensions-us-exit-iran\/onetnkx7g&quot;,&quot;clickType&quot;:&quot;clickSource&quot;}\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/news\/article\/strait-of-hormuz-tensions-us-exit-iran\/onetnkx7g\">the Strait of Hormuz<\/a> and their hesitance to assist US offensive operations against Iran, despite <a data-variant=\"textBodyLink\" class=\"Link_baseLink__646Cm EmbeddedLink_embedLink__VHy9W EmbeddedLink_nonAnchorLink__G8nc7\" data-clickevent=\"{&quot;elementType&quot;:&quot;LinkEmbed&quot;,&quot;clickURL&quot;:&quot;\/news\/article\/australia-defends-war-efforts-after-trump-critcisim\/b1cf52opk&quot;,&quot;clickType&quot;:&quot;clickSource&quot;}\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/news\/article\/australia-defends-war-efforts-after-trump-critcisim\/b1cf52opk\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">not consulting the defensive alliance before launching the war<\/a> alongside Israel on 28 February.<\/p>\n<p class=\"bodyParagaph\">But as he wrapped up his lengthy news conference on Tuesday, he also fumed about the lack of support from Pacific allies.<\/p>\n<p>READ MORE<\/p>\n<p class=\"bodyParagaph\">&#8220;You know who else didn&#8217;t help us? South Korea didn&#8217;t help us,&#8221; Trump said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"bodyParagaph\">&#8220;You know who else didn&#8217;t help us? Australia didn&#8217;t help us,&#8221; he added. <\/p>\n<p class=\"bodyParagaph\">&#8220;You know who else didn&#8217;t help us? Japan. We&#8217;ve got 50,000 soldiers in Japan to protect them from North Korea.<\/p>\n<p class=\"bodyParagaph\">&#8220;We have 45,000 soldiers in South Korea to protect us from Kim Jong-un, who I get along with very well.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"bodyParagaph\">Rowland said Australians had been feeling the war&#8217;s impacts.<\/p>\n<p class=\"bodyParagaph\">&#8220;Australians and innocent people right around the world and in the region are being impacted by events that they didn&#8217;t cause, but it is having lasting impacts,&#8221; she told ABC radio on Tuesday morning. <\/p>\n<p class=\"bodyParagaph\">&#8220;It&#8217;s having impacts on our supply chains and causing real anxiety for Australians.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>READ MOREThe Hormuz deadline<\/p>\n<p class=\"bodyParagaph\">Iran said on Tuesday it wanted a lasting end to \u200cthe war with the US and Israel, and pushed back against <a data-variant=\"textBodyLink\" class=\"Link_baseLink__646Cm EmbeddedLink_embedLink__VHy9W EmbeddedLink_nonAnchorLink__G8nc7\" data-clickevent=\"{&quot;elementType&quot;:&quot;LinkEmbed&quot;,&quot;clickURL&quot;:&quot;\/news\/article\/strait-of-hormuz-tensions-us-exit-iran\/onetnkx7g&quot;,&quot;clickType&quot;:&quot;clickSource&quot;}\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/news\/article\/strait-of-hormuz-tensions-us-exit-iran\/onetnkx7g\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">pressure to reopen the Strait of Hormuz<\/a>, while Trump warned the country could be &#8220;taken out&#8221; if it did not meet his deadline to reach a deal.<\/p>\n<p class=\"bodyParagaph\">Responding \u2060to a US proposal through mediator Pakistan, Iran rejected a ceasefire and said a \u2060permanent end to the war was necessary, the official IRNA news agency reported.<\/p>\n<p class=\"bodyParagaph\">The Iranian response consisted of 10 clauses, including an end to conflicts in the region, a protocol for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, lifting of sanctions and reconstruction, the agency added.<\/p>\n<p class=\"bodyParagaph\">Trump, who has threatened to rain &#8220;hell&#8221; on Iran if it did not make \u200ca deal by 8pm EDT Tuesday (10am AEST Wednesday) to open the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global energy supplies, rejected the Iranian response and said his deadline was final.<\/p>\n<p class=\"bodyParagaph\">&#8220;They made a proposal, and it&#8217;s a significant proposal. It&#8217;s a significant step. It&#8217;s \u2060not good enough,&#8221; Trump told reporters at an annual White House Easter event, referring to Iran.<\/p>\n<p>LISTEN TO<\/p>\n<p><img sx=\"[object Object]\" alt=\"Tit-for-tat? Iran warns Trump over profane Strait of Hormuz threat\" data-testid=\"audio-image\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"850\" height=\"478\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"mui-12psrye\" style=\"color:transparent\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1775534110_919_.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Tit-for-tat? Iran warns Trump over profane Strait of Hormuz threat<\/p>\n<p class=\"bodyParagaph\">At a later news conference, Trump said that Iran could be &#8220;taken out&#8221; in one night &#8220;and that night might be \u200ctomorrow night&#8221;, referring to Tuesday (local time).<\/p>\n<p class=\"bodyParagaph\">&#8220;I mean complete demolition by 12 o&#8217;clock, and it&#8217;ll happen over a period of four hours \u2014 if we wanted to.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"bodyParagaph\">When asked by a New York Times reporter whether he is concerned about committing war crimes and violating the Geneva Convention by attacking civilian infrastructure, Trump said &#8220;not at all&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"bodyParagaph\">&#8220;I hope I don&#8217;t have to do it,&#8221; he added.<\/p>\n<p>Iran to continue &#8216;as political authorities see fit&#8217;<\/p>\n<p class=\"bodyParagaph\">Trump&#8217;s latest threats, <a data-variant=\"textBodyLink\" class=\"Link_baseLink__646Cm EmbeddedLink_embedLink__VHy9W EmbeddedLink_nonAnchorLink__G8nc7\" data-clickevent=\"{&quot;elementType&quot;:&quot;LinkEmbed&quot;,&quot;clickURL&quot;:&quot;\/news\/article\/trump-makes-expletive-filled-threat-to-iran-after-us-soldier-rescued\/a01tn3xn4&quot;,&quot;clickType&quot;:&quot;clickSource&quot;}\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/news\/article\/trump-makes-expletive-filled-threat-to-iran-after-us-soldier-rescued\/a01tn3xn4\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">including a profanity-laced social media post on Monday<\/a>, have sent shockwaves through the international community.<\/p>\n<p class=\"bodyParagaph\">International Committee of the Red Cross chief Mirjana Spoljaric Egger warned that &#8220;deliberate threats &#8230; against essential civilian infrastructure&#8221; are illegal.<\/p>\n<p>LISTEN TO<\/p>\n<p><img sx=\"[object Object]\" alt=\" Trump says Iran can be 'taken out' for not reopening Strait of Hormuz as a ceasefire stalls\" data-testid=\"audio-image\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"850\" height=\"478\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"mui-12psrye\" style=\"color:transparent\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1775534112_240_.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Trump says Iran can be &#8216;taken out&#8217; for not reopening Strait of Hormuz as a ceasefire stalls<\/p>\n<p class=\"bodyParagaph\">But talk of a ceasefire came as the US and Israel were striking targets across Iran, including major petrochemical facilities, and as Iran continued missile and drone attacks around the region.<\/p>\n<p class=\"bodyParagaph\">Iran&#8217;s military said it would &#8220;continue the war as long as the political authorities see fit&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"bodyParagaph\">After the US and Israel attacked on 28 February, <a data-variant=\"textBodyLink\" class=\"Link_baseLink__646Cm EmbeddedLink_embedLink__VHy9W EmbeddedLink_nonAnchorLink__G8nc7\" data-clickevent=\"{&quot;elementType&quot;:&quot;LinkEmbed&quot;,&quot;clickURL&quot;:&quot;\/news\/article\/how-long-can-iran-keep-the-strait-of-hormuz-closed\/15leuko1r&quot;,&quot;clickType&quot;:&quot;clickSource&quot;}\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/news\/article\/how-long-can-iran-keep-the-strait-of-hormuz-closed\/15leuko1r\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Iran effectively closed Hormuz<\/a>, a conduit for about a fifth of the world&#8217;s oil and natural gas supply. <\/p>\n<p class=\"bodyParagaph\">The waterway&#8217;s stranglehold on the global economy has proved a powerful Iranian bargaining chip, and Iran has shown reluctance to relinquish it too easily.<\/p>\n<p>READ MORE<\/p>\n<p class=\"bodyParagaph\">A Pakistani-brokered framework for ending the war proposed an immediate ceasefire, followed by talks on a broader peace settlement to be concluded within 15 to 20 days, a source aware of the proposals said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"bodyParagaph\">Pakistan&#8217;s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, was in contact &#8220;all night long&#8221; with US vice president JD Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi, the source said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"bodyParagaph\">Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said his country&#8217;s demands &#8220;should not be interpreted as a sign of compromise, but rather as a reflection of its confidence in defending its positions&#8221;. <\/p>\n<p class=\"bodyParagaph\">He added that earlier <a data-variant=\"textBodyLink\" class=\"Link_baseLink__646Cm EmbeddedLink_embedLink__VHy9W EmbeddedLink_nonAnchorLink__G8nc7\" data-clickevent=\"{&quot;elementType&quot;:&quot;LinkEmbed&quot;,&quot;clickURL&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/news\/article\/airstrikes-batter-iran-israel-and-gulf-states-as-diplomatic-efforts-gather-pace\/3ijyiekps&quot;,&quot;clickType&quot;:&quot;clickSource&quot;}\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/news\/article\/airstrikes-batter-iran-israel-and-gulf-states-as-diplomatic-efforts-gather-pace\/3ijyiekps\">US demands, such as a 15-point plan,<\/a> were rejected as &#8220;excessive&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"bodyParagaph\">For the latest from SBS News, <a data-variant=\"textBodyLink\" class=\"Link_baseLink__646Cm EmbeddedLink_embedLink__VHy9W EmbeddedLink_nonAnchorLink__G8nc7\" data-clickevent=\"{&quot;elementType&quot;:&quot;LinkEmbed&quot;,&quot;clickURL&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/news\/sbs-news-app?cid=sbsnews:cm:editorial:aw:election2025:appush:hi&quot;,&quot;clickType&quot;:&quot;clickSource&quot;}\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/news\/sbs-news-app?cid=sbsnews:cm:editorial:aw:election2025:appush:hi\">download our app<\/a> and <a data-variant=\"textBodyLink\" class=\"Link_baseLink__646Cm EmbeddedLink_embedLink__VHy9W EmbeddedLink_nonAnchorLink__G8nc7\" data-clickevent=\"{&quot;elementType&quot;:&quot;LinkEmbed&quot;,&quot;clickURL&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/news\/news-newsletter-sign-up?cid=sbsnews:cm:editorial:aw:election2025:newsletterpush:hi&quot;,&quot;clickType&quot;:&quot;clickSource&quot;}\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/news\/news-newsletter-sign-up?cid=sbsnews:cm:editorial:aw:election2025:newsletterpush:hi\">subscribe to our newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"IN BRIEFDonald Trump has named Australia in a list of key allies accused of non-assistance during the ongoing&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":590482,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[43,44,41,39,42,40],"class_list":{"0":"post-590481","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-headlines","8":"tag-headlines","9":"tag-news","10":"tag-top-news","11":"tag-top-stories","12":"tag-topnews","13":"tag-topstories"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/590481","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=590481"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/590481\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/590482"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=590481"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=590481"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=590481"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}