Canberra: Australia has "done what we have been asked to do," said the Australian prime minister after US President Donald Trump stated that Canberra "should get involved" in Iran. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told journalists that maintaining the openness of the Strait of Hormuz is "critical," and urged Iran to "stop its attacks."

According to Anadolu Agency, Trump expressed his surprise over Australia's actions, stating, "Get involved . I was a little bit surprised they said no . we always say yes to them," during an interview with Sky News Australia. When questioned about Trump's comments, Australia's Defense Minister Richard Marles mentioned that Washington "has requested support from Australia in terms of providing defense to the states of the Gulf." He highlighted the deployment of the E-7 Wedgetail plane in the Gulf, which was sent "in response to a request from the United Arab Emirates." This action "very much supports the defensive efforts that the United States was seeking," he noted.

Marles further clarified that Australia is actively engaged in defending the states of the Gulf and that the request for assistance came from multiple countries, including the United States. However, Canberra did not receive a request from Washington regarding a warship "in respect of the Straits of Hormuz."

Regional tensions in the Middle East have increased since Israel and the US launched a joint offensive against Iran on February 28, resulting in the deaths of over 1,300 people, including then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. In retaliation, Iran has launched drone and missile attacks across the region and has effectively restricted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial oil transit route that typically handles about 20 million barrels per day and approximately 20% of the global liquefied natural gas trade.