Pressure Mounts on NZ to Take Stand on Iran War at ANZMIN
As New Zealand and Australia prepare for high-level defence talks at ANZMIN, pressure is mounting on ministers to take a clear stance on the escalating war involving Iran, the United States and Israel.
New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins will land in Canberra for the third iteration of the Australia and New Zealand Foreign and Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ANZMIN) this week.
Calls for New Zealand to condemn the Iran war at ANZMIN
“Winston Peters and Judith Collins along with Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Defence Minister Richard Marles must take the opportunity to condemn the US and Israeli forces for the illegal war on Iran that was launched two weeks ago,” said Valerie Morse of Peace Action Wellington.
Demands to reject military support and impose sanctions
“These Ministers must issue clear statements that neither will provide any assistance to the US and Israeli war. There should be sanctions imposed, while military deployments and training alongside the US should be cancelled. Anything less than that is a capitulation to two genocidal criminals.”
Criticism of New Zealand and Australia’s response
“So far, both the NZ government and Australian government appear to be singing from the same song sheet of talking points, claiming that it is up to the US and Israel to make their case. That is complete cowardice and complicity. These Ministers need to start being honest about what this war is about: an aggressive war for power and regional supremacy waged by two nuclear weapons states against a non-nuclear power during ongoing negotiations. The mask has well and truly been ripped off US and Israeli claims of any moral legitimacy whatsoever. These are rogue states and should be treated like the pariah that they are.”
Warnings of wider regional escalation
“People across the globe are already utterly revolted by Israel’s relentless assault on the people of Gaza in its two-plus-year-long genocide. Now, Israel’s leader Benyamin Netanyahu has convinced US President Trump to wage war on Iran – that has resulted in countries across the region being bombed and mass death. It has set us on a path to world war three as there is no end in sight.”
With tensions escalating across the Middle East, ANZMIN presents a critical test of New Zealand’s independent foreign policy. Whether ministers choose alignment or dissent may define how Aotearoa is positioned in an increasingly polarised global conflict.
