Iranian ambassador Ahmad Sadeghi calls on Anthony Albanese to condemn Israel, issues warning to Donald Trump

Iran's ambassador to Australia, Ahmad Sadeghi, has called on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to condemn Israel's strikes on the Middle Eastern nation and denied that the Islamic Republic is working on a nuclear weapons program.

Mr Sadeghi made the comments to 7.30 during a wide-ranging interview where he also refused to recognise Israel's right to exist as a state and warned US President Donald Trump there may be consequences for 80,000 US troops stationed in the Persian Gulf if the US strikes Iranian targets.

Mr Sadeghi described Israel's June 13 attack on Iranian targets — that has seen a reported 224 people there killed — as "unprovoked".

Since then, there have been a reported 24 casualties in Israel as a result of Iranian retaliatory strikes, with civilians dying on both sides.

Mr Sadeghi defended the Iranian response as "its inalienable right to just defensive measures", before he called on Mr Albanese to condemn Israel for the June 13 attack that has pushed the Middle East to the brink of a wider conflict.

"If you let it go unpunished [and] the prime minister of this regime [Benjamin Netanyahu] declared publicly and arrogantly that 'I ordered such an attack against Iran'.

"If you just let them go free, it has very bad consequences."

Asked by 7.30 host David Speers if that meant "condemnation," Mr Sadeghi responded "exactly".

Asked if that meant a public condemnation of Israel from the Albanese government, the Iranian ambassador said: "Yes, I ask them."

Warning issued to Trump

As he asked for Australia to condemn Israel's actions, which began with attacks on Iranian nuclear sites, Mr Sadeghi issued a warning about possible US involvement.

Israel's original strikes targeted Iranian nuclear facilities at Natanz, Sifahan, and Fordow, and several scientists involved in nuclear research and development, reflecting Israel's fears about Iran's nuclear program and potential capability to soon produce nuclear weapons.

But the Fordow site is deep underground, and it has been suggested that only US bunker-busting bombs could breach it.

Mr Trump has so far avoided getting the US directly involved but has called for Iran's "unconditional surrender" and warned Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei that the US will not kill him "for now".

"We know exactly where the so-called 'Supreme Leader' is hiding," Mr Trump posted on Truth Social. "He is an easy target, but is safe there — we are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now.

"But we don't want missiles shot at civilians or American soldiers. Our patience is wearing thin. Thank you for your attention to this matter!"

Mr Sadeghi told 7.30 that Iran was "fully prepared" to negotiate but warned that US military involvement could lead to a wider conflict.

"The Mr Trump … character … he was supposed to be a man of peace, now he's come to man of war," Mr Sadeghi said.

"The other Islamic nations around … in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq —  if Iran would be attacked by US, they wouldn't be silent.

"We advise Mr Trump to [not] be dragged into an unwanted war that Netanyahu is going to make. Netanyahu is notorious to put the burden of [his] own unjust war on shoulder of the other players.

"I ask Mr Trump to be very careful about that."

Nuclear weapons denial

Mr Sadeghi earned himself a diplomatic rebuke from Mr Albanese last year for "antisemitic" and "hateful" comments he made on social media that called for the "wiping out" of Israelis in Palestine by 2027.

During his appearance on 7.30, he was repeatedly challenged to acknowledge Israel's right to exist and refused to do so.

However, when he was challenged on whether Israel had a right to fear Iran's nuclear capability, Mr Sadeghi maintained the programme was peaceful.

That ran against comments made earlier in June by Rafael Grossi, director of the UN's nuclear watchdog, the IAEA.

In a statement, Mr Grossi said the IAEA was not "in a position to provide assurance that Iran’s nuclear programme is exclusively peaceful".

Mr Sadeghi disputed that was the case and went on to deny Iran was pursuing a nuclear weapons programme.

"He (Grossi) came back to Vienna and had a sort of declaration that was not consistent with work cooperation Iran was doing," Mr Sadeghi said.

"All the inspection on the Iranian programmes just signifies that Iran's programme has been peaceful and nothing as the initiation with regard to nuclear arms."

Asked if that meant that Iran would not pursue the manufacture of nuclear weapons, Mr Sadeghi said the nation would not.

"Of course not," he said.

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