Australian Residents Urged to Leave Israel and Lebanon Ahead of Iran-US Nuclear Negotiations

JAKARTA - The Australian government on Wednesday, February 25, urged its citizens and families of Australian diplomats to leave Israel and Lebanon immediately.

The Australian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemenlu) revealed that the worsening situation in the Middle East due to the heating of the Iran-United States conflict was the reason for the call to be issued.

According to the Ministry, quoted by Reuters, the Australian Government also offered voluntary relocation to the families of Australian diplomats in the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, and Qatar.

Australia continues to advise its citizens in Israel and Lebanon to leave both countries while commercial options are still available.

The appeal was made in a series of uploads on the Australian Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Smartraveler X account.

The Australian Government has offered voluntary departures to dependants of Australian officials posted in Jordan, Qatar and the UAE. We continue to advise exercise a high degree of caution in these destinations. (1/3) pic.twitter.com/euj2sXPEwg

— Smartraveller (@Smartraveller) February 25, 2026

This appeal was also issued by the Australian Government shortly after US President Donald Trump's state of the nation address on Tuesday, February 24, local time.

In his speech, Trump threatened by saying he would not allow Iran to have nuclear weapons, the evidence of which has never been revealed by the US.

Nuclear negotiations between the US and Iran have entered the third round, which is scheduled to be held in Geneva on Thursday, February 26.

This negotiation comes amid increasing US pressure which is deploying its military capabilities to the Middle East to the maximum.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Tuesday that an agreement with the US on nuclear negotiations "can be reached" if diplomacy is a priority.