Canberra: Australia's top diplomat urged against further escalation in the Middle East in a call with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, local media reported Friday. Foreign Minister Penny Wong spoke with Rubio earlier in the day and discussed the regional conflict.

According to Anadolu Agency, the two diplomats also discussed the strategic Strait of Hormuz and its impact on the global economy and energy security. Wong emphasized the importance of international cooperation to ensure that critical waterways are not controlled by any single regime. "We agreed that the international community must keep working together to ensure critical waterways are not held hostage by the Iranian regime," Wong stated.

She further expressed Australia's desire to prevent the conflict from worsening, saying, "Australia does not want to see the conflict continue to escalate." The tensions in the Middle East have been on the rise following a joint offensive by Israel and the US on Iran on February 28, resulting in the deaths of over 1,300 individuals, including the then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Iran has responded with drone and missile attacks across the region and has effectively restricted access to the Strait of Hormuz for most ships. This crucial oil transit route typically handles around 20 million barrels per day and approximately 20% of the global liquefied natural gas trade.