Threat to destroy civilisation 'unacceptable', Wong says
The foreign minister said that US President Donald Trump's comments threatening the destruction of Iranian civilisation were "unacceptable" but stopped short of agreeing they constituted a war crime.
"We know that the US under President Trump is going to be more unpredictable," she told Today.
Wong said Australia remained committed to its partnership with the US, but was also diversifying its partnerships.
Wong said Australia remained committed to its partnership with the US, but was also diversifying its partnerships. Today
READ MORE: Iran war a wake-up call for Australian policy-makers
She said relationships with south-east Asia, Canada, and the European Union were deepening as a result of the government's outreach.
Wong also called for Israel and Hezbollah to respect the ceasefire in Lebanon and cease fighting there.
"We want the ceasefire to apply to Lebanon," she said.
"Other countries around the world have said the same thing."
One of those other countries is Iran, and Wong warned that ongoing fighting risked destroying the ceasefire.
"It is a fragile ceasefire, but it is also a ceasefire that the world needs to hold," she said.
On the impact the war is having on Australian fuel supplies, Wong says it could be some time for petrol prices around the country to come down, amid conflicting reports the Strait of Hormuz has again been closed.
"My answer is, we want it to be as soon as possible but I think the hard reality is this may take some time," she said of the prospect of relief at the bowser.
She did not confirm whether the strait, a key oil shipping lane, was closed, saying there were "conflicting reports".
"What is most important is whether commercial shipping has the confidence the Strait is open," she said.
Watch the full interview with Penny Wong in the video above
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