CANBERRA, Australia: Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Thursday that the original objectives of the war in Iran had largely been achieved, questioning what more remained to be done and calling for de-escalation.
Albanese noted that US-Israeli strikes had significantly degraded Iran’s air force, navy, and military-industrial base, suggesting that the initial goals of the campaign had been met.
“Now those objectives have been realised, it is not clear what more needs to be achieved or what the end point looks like,” he said during a speech in Canberra.
“What is clear is that the longer the war goes on, the more significant the impact on the global economy will be.”
My Address to the Nation. pic.twitter.com/Iaqts9Rd4X
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) April 1, 2026
Australia — which relies heavily on imported fuel and holds around 37 days’ worth of petrol reserves — has moved to cushion the economic impact of rising energy prices by cutting fuel taxes and pledging $680 million in loans to businesses.
Albanese reiterated that Australia is not a participant in the conflict.
Defence Minister Richard Marles said Canberra was in discussions with Britain and France on potential contributions to reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping lane through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil passes during peacetime.
Iran has effectively closed the strategic waterway since US-Israeli strikes on February 28 triggered a wider regional conflict, sending global oil and gas prices sharply higher.
“We have an interest in the Strait of Hormuz being open. It is a function of when conditions allow any of these steps to take place. And those conditions don’t exist right now,” Marles said in an interview with Sky News Australia.
He added that Australia would take part in a multi-national meeting convened by Britain to discuss the situation.
Albanese’s remarks came as US President Donald Trump delivered a televised address outlining his position on the war, vowing two to three more weeks of “extremely hard” strikes against Iran.
Trump said Washington’s objectives were to dismantle Iran’s military capabilities, end its support for regional armed groups, and prevent it from acquiring a nuclear weapon.
“I’m pleased to say that these core strategic objectives are nearing completion,” Trump said in the 19-minute speech.
