Jewish leaders in Australia have cautiously welcomed reported moves towards a US-Iran agreement but say any deal must prevent Tehran from obtaining nuclear weapons and curb Iran’s support for proxy groups across the region.
JNS reported that the proposed agreement would extend the ceasefire by 60 days, reopen the Strait of Hormuz and start negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program. It also reported that Israel had been briefed on the talks and that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had stressed Israel’s need to maintain freedom of action against threats in all arenas, including Lebanon.
The framework has not been fully released, and accounts of its terms remain disputed. JNS cited reports that it would include the lifting of the US naval blockade on Iranian ports and an Iranian commitment to negotiate over uranium enrichment, while also noting Iranian claims that the nuclear issue was not part of the preliminary agreement.
Jeremy Leibler, President of the Zionist Federation of Australia, said “a credible pathway towards lasting regional peace and security” was a goal shared by all and described the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz as “a positive first step for regional stability and the global economy”.
But he said “caution is warranted” until the full details of the agreement are known.
“The key question is whether this agreement addresses the threats posed by the Iranian regime or simply provides it with time, resources and legitimacy while leaving those threats intact,” Leibler said.
He said the agreement should ultimately be judged not by whether it reduced tensions today but by whether it “dismantles Iran’s nuclear program, curbs its ballistic missile capabilities and ends its support for terrorist proxies”.
The Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) said it welcomed “any genuine steps” that could help end the current violence and tensions in the Middle East and curb Iran’s malign influence across the region. However, it said the full terms must be closely examined before the agreement can be judged.
AIJAC executive director Dr Colin Rubenstein said any agreement with Tehran must include firm and verifiable safeguards.
“Any agreement with Iran must unequivocally ensure that the Iranian regime can never obtain nuclear weapons, with robust and verifiable mechanisms to
guarantee compliance,” Dr Rubenstein said.
“Meantime, any potential sanctions relief must be strictly conditioned on Iran meeting clear, measurable and certifiable benchmarks and be capable of being swiftly reversed in the event of non-compliance. It must also address Iran’s ballistic missile program and require an end to Tehran’s support for terrorist proxy groups that have destabilised the region for decades.”
Dr Rubenstein said any lasting agreement must also address the situation in Lebanon.
“A durable agreement should also confront the situation in Lebanon, including Hezbollah’s repeated missile and drone attacks against Israel, while reaffirming Israel’s fundamental right to defend itself against the threats posed by Iran and its proxies,” he said.
“While we hope this newly announced ceasefire agreement can be a step toward achieving all these goals, we will reserve judgement until its details are made public.”
AIJAC’s response reflects longstanding concerns among Australian Jewish and pro-Israel groups about Iran’s nuclear ambitions, its ballistic missile program and its support for Hezbollah and other armed groups.
While moves to reduce hostilities have been cautiously welcomed, AIJAC said the test of any agreement would be whether it delivers enforceable limits on Iran’s nuclear and military activities, rather than simply delaying another confrontation.
This is a developing story.