The Federal Government condemns the detention of two commercial vessels in the Gulf in the strongest possible terms. This is an unjustifiable intervention in civilian shipping that further exacerbates what is already a tense situation.

We call on Iran to release the second ship and its crew without delay.

A further escalation in the region would be very dangerous and would also undermine all ongoing efforts to find a way out of the current crisis.

We stand shoulder to shoulder with our UK partners in this serious situation.