Latest news with #Tehran
Daily Mail
35 minutes ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Penny Wong issues an urgent warning to Australians in Iran - as she orders evacuation of embassy
Australia has closed its embassy in Tehran, as Iran and Israel continue to bomb each other and after US President Donald Trump signalled the US could enter the conflict. All foreign affairs staff and their dependents in the Iranian capital have been told to leave 'based on advice about the deteriorating security environment'. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is deploying consular staff to Azerbaijan, including its border crossings, to support Australians departing Iran. 'We urge Australians who are able to leave Iran to do so now, if it is safe,' Foreign Minister Penny Wong said on Friday. 'Those who are unable to, or do not wish to leave, are advised to shelter in place.' Overnight in the US, Mr Trump, who has kept the world guessing about whether the US might join the war on Israel's side, said he would make a decision within the next two weeks. 'Based on the fact that there's a substantial chance of negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision whether or not to go within the next two weeks,' press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters in Washington, quoting a message from the president. The conflict between Israel and Iran erupted a week ago, when the former launched an attack against the Islamic republic's missile capabilities, claiming it was on the verge of developing nuclear weapons. Meanwhile, Australian Rozita Hassaniserkani is worried her father in Iran will forget her before she can see him again. It was several days after Israel's initial strikes on Iran before she could make contact with her family in Tehran. 'I didn't have anything from them and it was so stressful,' she told AAP. 'They are OK but there are so many people, so many innocent people, killed in the last few days and it's really sad. 'When you know your loved one or your country is in danger ... and you can't do anything, I think it's the worst feeling anyone can experience.' Ms Hassaniserkani - who came to Australia in 2012 - planned to visit Iran in July to see her father, who has Alzheimer's disease. 'He might forget me if I don't see him soon,' she said. 'I was crying like a child and saying ,'Why (should) these kind of things happen in this world, when everybody can live in peace?'' Israeli strikes on Iran have killed at least 639 people and wounded 1329 others, the Washington-based group Human Rights Activists says. Israel says at least 24 civilians have been killed by retaliatory strikes. Iranian refugee Nazanin Jebeli said the past week had been difficult. 'I'm worried for my people, but at the same time, Iranian women, they're looking for peace, and that's what matters,' she told AAP. 'Iranian people, no matter what, history has always showed that they had each other's back in difficult times and we support each other.' Mr Trump has demanded that Iran unconditionally surrender, saying he knew where Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was hiding. Iran has warned of 'all-out war' if the US joins the fray. Ms Hassaniserkani and Ms Jebeli are among the group of people featured in Archibald Packing Room Prize-winning artist Kathrin Longhurst's exhibition Collective Threads: A Public Presence, which opened at Sydney's Cato Gallery on Thursday. Ms Longhurst - born in East Germany during the Cold War - related to living in an oppressive regime and said working with the Iranian women had proved inspiring and empowering. The project stemmed from protests in 2022 over the death of Iranian woman Mahsa Amini, but has taken on additional significance in recent days. 'I know there's a lot of anxiety in the Iranian community but this whole body of work has been about people supporting each other, women supporting women,' Ms Longhurst said.
News.com.au
37 minutes ago
- Politics
- News.com.au
Australia closes Tehran embassy tells officials to leave over security fears
Australia has shuttered its embassy in Tehran and directed all Australian officials and their dependants to leave 'based on advice about the deteriorating security environment in Iran'. All Australians in the country have been urged to leave if it is safe, or to shelter in place if it is not. Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Australia's Ambassador to Iran will remain in the region 'to support the Australian Government's response to this crisis'. 'The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is deploying consular staff to Azerbaijan, including its border crossings, to support Australians departing Iran,' she said. 'We are continuing planning to support Australians seeking to depart Iran, and we remain in close contact with other partner countries. At this stage, our ability to provide consular services is extremely limited due to the situation on the ground. The airspace remains closed.' There are currently some 1200 Australians seeking evacuation from Iran, with that number expected to rise as thousands of Australians remain stuck in the region. Australia's suspension of Embassy operations is concurent with similar measures taken by other countries, including New Zealand and Switzerland. Australians in Iran seeking consular assistance are urged to call the Australian Government's 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 outside Australia and 1300 555 135 (in Australia).
Bloomberg
41 minutes ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Trump to Decide on Iran Strike ‘Within Two Weeks'
Good morning. Israel hits more Iranian nuclear sites as Donald Trump dangles a decision on a US strike. Chinese companies line up in droves to list in Hong Kong. And Pan Am is reborn. Listen to the day's top stories. Donald Trump will decide within two weeks whether to strike Iran, the White House said, adding that the president believes diplomacy with Tehran is still an option. Meantime, Israel said it destroyed around half of Iran's missile launchers and warned its attacks may 'create the conditions' to bring down Iran's government. Satellite images show Iran is racing to get its oil out and filling storage tanks. American Airlines and United became the latest carriers to suspend some flights to busy hubs in the Middle East.
The Sun
an hour ago
- Politics
- The Sun
If Donald Trump strikes Iran, Britain MUST back US and Israel to the hilt
NO ONE knows exactly how close Iran is to making a nuclear weapon. Not least because it has banned international inspectors from finding out. 2 But their intention is clear. Iran is the only non-nuclear-armed country in the world to have enriched uranium at such high levels. Tehran's fanatical Islamists also want desperately to fire a nuke warhead at Israel and wipe it out. Donald Trump already offered Iran a way out — by giving up its nuclear programme. It responded with a bombing attack on an Israeli hospital. There is a powerful case for Trump to now order a bunker-buster bomb raid on Iran's underground network Not only could it destroy the mad mullahs' ambitions for a nuclear holocaust. It could also define his presidency. Strong intervention now will show other despots the US is back as a global deterrent force after Joe Biden 's humiliating Afghanistan withdrawal. So far, Sir Keir Starmer 's response has been insipid — trotting out the usual Foreign Office lines about the need for de-escalation. But if America strikes, Britain MUST back them and Israel to the hilt. Iran — with secret agents from its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps operating on our streets — is a threat to us, too. It's no surprise to learn that Attorney General Lord Hermer has warned Starmer that UK involvement 'could' be illegal. When it comes to national security, he has been on the wrong side of every argument so far. The Prime Minister needs to be crystal clear with Lord Hermer — and everybody else — that British interests lie with Israel and America. The stakes could not be higher. Paradise last SUCH is the new Europe-wide anti-immigration crackdown, Britain remains the last paradise for illegal migrants. Countries such as Denmark and Sweden are turning asylum-seekers away at the door. 2 Meanwhile, the UK escorts them across the Channel and puts them up indefinitely in hotels. If only we could follow Australia's example and cut numbers to next to nothing with a scheme to send migrants to a third country. Except we did have one. The Rwanda plan — spitefully scrapped by Labour — WAS working to deter migrants, who had started heading to Ireland instead. Australia's former foreign minister Alexander Downer, the architect of his country's successful scheme, calls that decision a 'tragedy' for Britain. We can only agree. One day, ministers will have to admit what a terrible mistake they made.
Fox News
an hour ago
- Politics
- Fox News
One-on-One: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
Tensions between Israel and Iran have simmered for decades, fueled by Iran's opposition to Israel's existence, Tehran's funding of militant proxy groups, and their quickly developing nuclear program. In an exclusive interview, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu joins Bret to explain why he believes Israel's mission to eliminate Iran's nuclear and missile capabilities is a matter of national survival–and far more justified than Iran's civilian-targeted attacks. Later, Netanyahu weighs in on whether Israel can reach Iran's clandestine and fortified nuclear sites. Follow Bret on X: @BretBaier
