Summarised by Centrist
New Zealand is sending a Defence Force C-130J Hercules to the Middle East to assist in evacuating citizens stranded in Iran or Israel as tensions soar following US air strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.
A C-130J Hercules is set to leave Auckland on Monday, though airspace over the region remains restricted.
Defence Minister Judith Collins said the deployment is part of contingency planning and may allow for evacuations once airspace reopens.
Foreign Minister Winston Peters urged New Zealanders to leave now if safe routes are available. For those unable to travel, he advised sheltering in place and maintaining contact with family and authorities.
Peters and Collins refused to disclose the plane’s destination for security reasons but confirmed that preparations were underway for wider repatriation efforts. The number of registered New Zealanders in Iran has climbed from 46 to nearly 80, and more than 100 are registered in Israel.
New Zealand has reiterated its support for diplomacy, with Peters calling the situation “extremely worrying” and urging all sides to return to dialogue. “Diplomacy will deliver a more enduring resolution than further military action,” he said.
Labour’s defence spokesperson Peeni Henare backed the mission but said the government should also call out the US bombing of Iran as a breach of international law.
Collins and Peters declined to comment directly on the legality of the strikes.
