Dependents of Australian officials posted in Israel and Lebanon have been directed to leave by the federal government, as tensions in the Middle East heighten again.
The updated advice for both countries on Smartraveller notes the direction has been made “in response to the deteriorating security situation in the Middle East”.
The precautionary measure follows the re-escalation of regional tensions as the United States assembles its greatest military firepower in decades in the Middle East ahead of critical talks in Geneva over Tehran’s nuclear program.
Australian embassies in Tel Aviv and Beirut will remain open, with the general advice to travellers remaining at “reconsider your need to travel” due to the “unpredictable” situation in the Middle East, which could result in airspace closures, flight cancellations and travel disruptions.
Smartraveller’s advice for Iran remains at “do not travel”, with Australians inside the country advised to leave as soon as possible.
The Australian Government has also extended voluntary departures to the dependents of Australian officials posted in three other Middle East locations: Jordan, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
Similar advisories were issued last year when tensions in the region escalated.
Australia’s Embassies in Amman, Doha and Abu Dhabi, and the Dubai Consulate are open as usual.
Iranians suffered through the bloodiest crackdown on dissent in the country’s modern history just over a month ago. Thousands of people were killed in the conflict, with estimates ranging from 7,000 to 32,000 dead.
As Iranians await the outcome of the Geneva negotiations, many fear the outbreak of a war that could surpass Iran’s bloody 1980s conflict with Iraq, and see it as a last chance for their ruling theocracy to strike a deal with US President Donald Trump.
The prospects of a war with the US have riven a population that includes hard-line supporters of the theocracy and those who feel Iran is splitting at the seams, especially after as it is still reeling from a devastating 12-day war with Israel in June and thousands of people killed and arrested during last month’s protests.
Still, Iran heads into the Thursday talks “with a determination to achieve a fair and equitable deal — in the shortest possible time,” Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted Tuesday on X.
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