iscover
The Australian government has thrown its support behind an agreement between the United States of America and Iran.
The agreement is expected to be officially signed in Switzerland between the two parties, as a possibly end to violence between the two countries and closure of the Strait of Hormuz since February this year.
Australia has previously advocated for the reopening the Strait of Hormuz and the restoration of freedom of navigation, as well as dialogue and diplomacy between the countries.
“Australia has long called for de‑escalation and an end to the conflict, including in Lebanon. As we have said, the longer this war goes on, the greater the impact will be,” according to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
“We are pleased the agreement between the US and Iran includes steps towards reopening the Strait of Hormuz and the restoration of freedom of navigation. While full recovery will take time, restoring this vital trade corridor is essential to easing pressure on energy prices and economies, including in our region.
“We will continue to do all we can to shield Australians from the worst impacts of this conflict. Australia now has more fuel in its reserves than ever and we will continue to work hard to ensure we have adequate supply.
“We encourage all parties to use this opportunity to pursue a durable and lasting peace through dialogue and diplomacy. Iran must address longstanding concerns about its nuclear program and the threat it poses to international security.
“We commend the efforts to date of Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and other mediating countries. Australia will continue to engage with international partners to promote peace, stability and security in the Middle East.”
Earlier this month, Australia announced its support for an International Peace Fund for Israel and Palestine, alongside the United Kingdom and Canada.
Establishment of a new International Peace Fund for Israelis and Palestinians would be a multi-donor initiative to support peacebuilding efforts to establish the conditions for a lasting peace.
The fund would also help strengthen the voices of moderates and marginalise the extremists, including Hamas.
Australia would be contributing initial seed funding equivalent to £1 million over three years. Once established, the Fund will be open to additional financial contributions from international partners committed to advancing peace.
Funding will be directed to trusted civil society organisations in both Israel and Palestine, with demonstrated expertise in peacebuilding and dialogue.
Robert Dougherty
Want to see more stories from trusted news sources?
Make Defence Connect a preferred news source on Google.
Click here to add Defence Connect as a preferred news source.