Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Friday that three Australian defence personnel were on board a United States submarine that sank an Iranian warship with a torpedo in the Indian Ocean, but stressed they did not take part in the attack.

The strike, which occurred off the southern coast of Sri Lanka this week, marked the first time since World War Two that the United States has sunk an enemy vessel with a torpedo. Sri Lankan authorities recovered the bodies of 87 sailors.

Albanese told Sky News the Australians were on board as part of training linked to the AUKUS defence pact between Australia, the US and Britain, designed to help Australia acquire and build nuclear-powered submarines.

No Australian personnel have participated in any offensive action against Iran, Albanese said.

“These are long-standing third country arrangements that have been in place for a long period of time,” Albanese said.

Australia, a close US ally, has ruled out any military role in the conflict, but has said it would support efforts aimed at preventing Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.

The conflict in the Middle East escalated on Thursday, with with US and Israeli jets hitting multiple areas across Iran, while Gulf cities came under renewed bombardment. —with agencies

India gets 30-day waiver from US to buy Russian oil amid Iran war

March 6, 2026 8:15 am

Amid the escalating conflict with Iran, the US said it is issuing a temporary 30-day waiver to allow Indian refiners to purchase Russian oil.

President Trump’s energy agenda has resulted in oil and gas production reaching the highest levels ever recorded.

To enable oil to keep flowing into the global market, the Treasury Department is issuing a temporary 30-day waiver to allow Indian refiners to purchase Russian oil.…