Australia’s decision to back in the US’ war against Iran in February was “not a mistake”, Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs Matt Thistlethwaite said this morning, as the effects of the conflict continue to be felt around the world.
Asked if the government might have made a different decision if it had been able to foresee the economic fallout of the war on Australia, Thistlethwaite told News24:
“We supported it in the beginning because it was aimed at ensuring that Iran cannot acquire a nuclear weapon, and that was the right thing to do, and we stand by that. So that was not a mistake. That was the right thing to do.
“But this conflict has now dragged on for too long, in our view, and the Australian people have every right to be completely frustrated by this ongoing conflict and its stop-start nature … because of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, it’s forcing up fuel costs and energy costs throughout the world.”
Fuel prices have surged across the country in September due to the conflict, which has closed the Strait of Hormuz and prevented oil supplies from travelling through the critical choke point.
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