Australia Briefing

Australia Weighs Gulf States’ Request for Military Aid to Defend Against Iran

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Tehran's skyline covered with clouds and smoke after overnight strike on the Tehran Oil Refinery, on March 8.Photographer: ATTA KENARE/AFP

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By Angus Whitley

March 8, 2026 at 9:37 PM UTC

Good morning. It’s Angus here in Sydney. The Iran war rages on and continues to rattle global markets, while Iran has picked a new supreme leader. President Donald Trump says he is now weighing the option of deploying special forces on the ground to seize Iran’s uranium. At home, Australia is assessing a request from Gulf nations for defensive military support. And Geraldine Slattery, the head of BHP Group’s Australian business, is said to be in the running for the top job at Woodside Energy Group. — Angus Whitley, Global Business reporter

Australia said it is assessing a request from Gulf nations for defensive military support to protect them against Iranian drone and missile attacks. Australia won’t take part in offensive action or deploy ground troops in Iran, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said on ABC’s Insiders program on Sunday.