The Trump administration is reimposing a series of sanctions on Iran, targeting Iranian trade in aircraft, automobiles, pistachios and gold. In November, an additional round of sanctions will target exports.
These trade moves follow Donald Trump’s withdrawal in May of the United States from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action nuclear deal. This new reality means that Australia should urgently clarify its stance towards Iran.
We know that Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo discussed Iran at the July AUSMIN summit. While Bishop, commendably and appropriately, has been recently criticising Iran’s regional military aggression and ongoing missile development, Australian diplomats are actively reaching out to Tehran’s commercial class, with the embassy there recently announcing “Australian companies are keen on doing business with Iran” and signalling a “wait and see” approach to the discredited nuclear deal.
Australia needs a clear and consistent position which should be based on Australia’s national interest in robustly addressing the threat posed by a belligerent, expansionist and irresponsible Iran.
Read the article by Colin Rubenstein in The Age.