Aussies travelling to Oman, Qatar told to exercise ‘high degree of caution’

The United Nations Security Council has held urgent talks in New York on Iran after US President Donald Trump said “all options” remained on the table.

The threat of US military intervention has loomed large over the Middle East in recent days as news of Iran’s bloody crackdown on protesters slowly trickled out despite a near-total phone and internet shutdown by authorities.

Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong acknowledged the talks during a press conference from Adelaide on Friday which, she said, “underlines the seriousness of the situation”.

“Hundreds, if not thousands, of Iranians have been killed by their own government, by a brutal, oppressive regime which is seeking to maintain power,” she said.

“We condemn this horrific crackdown.

“The Iranian people have shown enormous courage, not only in recent weeks, but over many years, and we all salute the courage of Iranian women.”

Asked about her message to Mr Trump, Ms Wong instead said her message was to the Iranian regime “which is the world is calling on you to cease your brutal crackdown on your people”.

“That is what President Trump has articulated. It is what the G7 has articulated, and what Australia also calls for,” she said.

Protests have swept Iran since late last year, with uproar over a currency crash morphing into a wider uprising against the almost 50-year-old theocratic regime.

President Trump has repeatedly claimed Iranian authorities have given assurances protesters would not face summary executions, despite Iran having a long history of executing political prisoners, including from its ethnic minority groups.

Those comments did little to dispel a state of readiness across the region on Thursday, with Iran temporarily closing its airspace, some US personnel being evacuated from an airbase in Qatar, and Israel being placed on a state of high alert.

Ms Wong warned tensions across the region “remain high”.

“The security situation could deteriorate rapidly without notice. This could see flights canceled, airspace closed, and other disruptions,” she said.

Aussies travelling to Oman and Qatar earlier received a similar warning from the Australian travel authority on Thursday.

On Thursday, Smartraveller raised its advice for both countries, recommending travellers exercise a “high degree of caution”.

“The security situation in the Middle East is unpredictable,” the update for Oman reads.

“Conflicts in the Middle East could lead to an increase in tensions elsewhere in the region and may result in airspace closures, flight cancellations and other travel disruptions.

“Prioritise your safety, monitor events and follow local advice.”

It warned demonstrations and protests could occur, and local security situations may deteriorate with little notice.

It continues to advise people to reconsider their need to travel to Oman’s border with Yemen, due to the threat of armed conflict and violence.

“Avoid all demonstrations and protests. Monitor local media for updates and follow the advice of authorities,” the warning reads.

An almost identical warning has been issued for those travelling to Qatar.

It flagged snap airport closures and flight disruptions, as well as demonstrations and protests activity, amid the unpredictable situation.

Smartraveller also flagged reports of American officials being evacuated from the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar on January 14.

The move came amid heightened tensions between the US and Iran, after US President Donald Trump threatened to intervene in the Iranian regime’s violent crackdown on demonstrators.

In December, protests erupted in Iran over mounting inflation and the collapse of the rial, before snowballing into a larger challenge to the clerical political establishment.

Mr Trump had earlier weighed up options on using military force to stop the Iranian government from hanging demonstrators protesting against the regime.

However, Mr Trump said on Thursday he had been assured the “killing had stopped and the executions won’t take place”.

“There were supposed to be a lot of executions today and that the executions won’t take place – and we’re going to find out,” he said.

He did not confirm whether the US had ruled out military action.

“We’re going to watch it and see what the process is,” he said.