Updated 4 May 2024
Quick facts:
- Australian population is 25m, 30% are Christian, 39% no religion.
- Australia is constitutional monarchy, a parliamentary democracy, and a federation.
- The distance between Iran’s capital Tehran and the Australian capital city Canberra is 12,830km (7972 miles).
- Geographically, Australia is closer to the Asian continent than the American or European continents, but culturally and politically aligned with the western values and security interests.
Australia and Iran
In 1941, amid World War 2, Reza Khan adopted a policy of remaining neutral. This position ultimately resulted in the occupation of the Soviet Union and Britain in Iran. Under the Allied strategy, Australia stationed troops in the Khuzestan Province of Iran in efforts to secure oil resources in the Middle East and prevent German and Italian access to these vital assets. Australia’s presence also provided a perception of alignment with the Allied cause against the Nazi Germany and its allies.
In 1968, Australia established its formal diplomatic relations with Embassies in Tehran and Canberra. Economic ties started to develop with trade in minerals and commodities such as wheat and wool.
In September 1974 Shahanshah Mohamad Reza Pahlavi with Her imperial Majesty the Shahbanou of Iran, visited Australia, greeted by the then Governor General Sir William Kerr and Prime Minister Gough Whitlam and his wife. During his visit, Shah visited electronic manufacturing plants, metal smelting factories and observed the natural beauty of Australian flora and fauna. On 26 September 1974, Iran and Australia signed a trade agreement speculated to boost Australia’s exports by AUD$60-100m by 1980.
In 1977, the Australian Government invited His Imperial Highness Reza Pahlavi to make a private visit Australia. On 9 January 1978, the Crown Prince visited the National War Memorial, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation and the Nomad aircraft factory.
On the 5 January 1979 a Royal Australian Air Force C-130E Hercules from No 37 Squadron landed in Tehran to evacuate 29 Australian civilians (embassy staff and their families) to Bahrain.
For 10 years after the opening of the embassy in 1968, Australia’s largest trading partner in the middle East was Iran.
South Korea is suggested to be a comparable nation to illustrate the potential projection of Iran’s economy beyond 1979. Australia exported AUD$50b and imported AUD $28b in FY22-23 to South Korea; goods and services in the $28b are refined petroleum, recreation and services to Australia.
Australia and the Islamic Republic of Iran
Today the Australian Government maintains its diplomatic ties with Iran and maintains its “uninterrupted diplomatic presence in Iran… since 1968”. Australia also recognises large state-owned enterprises, including the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), dominate key industry sectors, and organisations controlled by religious foundations account for a significant share of GDP.
Australia exports to the Islamic Republic a total value AUD $0.236b (FY22-23), AUD$0.174b in education-related travel. It imports AUD $0.104b, AUD $0.065b in recreation travel.
Outlook on its relationship
Former Australian Foreign Minister Gareth Evans in 1995 said “The Australian government has found these positions [support for Hezbollah and Hamas, opposition to Israel, and nuclear and chemical weapons] deeply unpalatable and has consistently said so … But our generally cordial relationship with Iran and the strong trade and commercial links between our two countries have put us in a strong position to maintain a much more direct and critical dialogue with the Iranians on these issues than would otherwise have been possible.”
Successive Australian governments have pointed to the diplomatic and political advantages of maintaining strong trade ties. In a response to a 2023 senate committee report, the Governments will maintain its “diplomatic presence” to “make direct representation to the (Islamic Republic) Iranian Government on issues of concern. This includes Iran’s threats and attacks against our friends and allies in the Middle East, its destabilising activities in the region and the human rights situation in Iran”.
Final remarks
From 1968 to 1978, the relationship between Iran and Australia had been of mutual benefit for its respective citizens in terms of economic growth, prosperity and sharing of values and culture. What Shahanshah saw of his people was nothing more than greatness. He knew what his people could achieve, he loved his people and he loved his home. Today, the relationship with the Islamic Republic has forced Australia to become a broker and mediator for release of hostages and vehicle for appeasement.
The behaviour of the Islamic Regime will not change, evidenced by the philosophy Australia has taken in the last 29 years and the Islamic Republics demonstration over the last 45 years. Achieving the natural human rights, security and prosperity for the Iranian people can be fast tracked by implementing appropriate policies (such as Maximum Support, Maximum Pressure) with the international community, including Australia. The Islamic Republic remains hell bent on spreading its ideology, destabilising the region, skirts around international laws and conventions both internationally and domestically. Policy change is overdue. Our leader has been chosen.
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