On Sunday, New Zealand released an official statement that didn’t explicitly condemn or support the US and Israel’s missile strikes on Iran. Instead, the statement “acknowledged” that the attack was “designed to prevent Iran from continuing to threaten international peace”. It also condemned “in the strongest terms” the Iranian government and their response.

This position broadly aligned with a joint statement released by France, Germany and the United Kingdom.

However, on Monday morning, prime minister Christopher Luxon told RNZ, “Our position is the same as the Australian position.”

Contrary to France, Germany and the UK, Australia has been explicit in their support of the US.

Critics of New Zealand’s statement include former prime minister Helen Clark, who told RNZ, “It didn’t call out the illegal strike against Iran in the middle of diplomatic negotiations, which were going quite well and further talks were scheduled”.

Made with the support of NZ On Air.