Australia 'did not participate' in Operation Epic Fury in Iran

Foreign Minister Penny Wong has confirmed Australia was not involved in the major Israeli-United States operation in Iran that has decapitated its leadership.

Senator Wong also confirmed Australia was not told in advance of Operation Epic Fury.

"Obviously, we did not participate in the strikes and you would not expect us to participate," she said.

The minister refused to comment on whether Australian intelligence contributed to the operation "as a general proposition".

"These are strikes which are determined by the parties concerned, which is the United States and Israel," she said.

Senator Wong urged the resumption of dialogue and diplomacy, which had been underway until the surprise attack.

Following a meeting of the National Security Committee of Cabinet this morning, the government is urgently seeking to confirm whether any Australians have been affected.

Official travel advice has been upgraded with Australians warned not to travel to Israel, Lebanon, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the foreign department was registering names of people seeking to depart Israel and Iran, though he noted that capacity to help people inside Iran was restricted.

Mr Albanese expressed his hope for the people of Iran, and concerns over regional escalation.

"When Iranians went out on the street to demand their human rights … we saw the [Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps] crack down brutally, thousands murdered," he said.

"This is a regime that — we hope that the Iranian people are able to determine their own destiny."

The prime minister urged a swift resolution to the attack.

Khamenei's death 'won't be mourned'

Iranian state media has confirmed that its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the attack, with Israel also claiming the deaths of other Iranian defence leaders.

Mr Albanese said the ayatollah would not be mourned.

"He is responsible for orchestrating attacks on Australian soil. His passing will not be mourned," Mr Albanese said.

Shadow Treasurer Tim Wilson told ABC Insiders that he did not want the situation to escalate further, but the death of the ayatollah was welcome.

"The ayatollah is dead and that means the world is now a safer place," Mr Wilson said.

Andrew Hastie, a former SAS soldier and former assistant defence minister, said Mr Trump was an "apex opportunist" who strikes when an opportunity is presented.

Mr Hastie told Sky News the president was "setting the conditions for regime change in Iran", but he believed that toppling the regime would be left to Iranians.

"It's a massive call, but given the restraining impulse of people in his administration like Vice President [J.D.] Vance there was never a prospect of boots in the ground," Mr Hastie said.

"We saw what he did in Venezuela, in and out ... we saw what happened in Iran last year, sending those bombers to hit the three nuclear facilities, I suspect this will look more of the same. Let's see what happens.

"As a veteran of the so-called 'forever wars' I am very suspicious about regime change by force, but Iran is a terrible regime, they are a proxy, they are underwritten by Chinese and Russian tech."