Australia Eases Middle East Travel Warnings After US-Iran Deal

Australia has relaxed its travel advice for several Middle Eastern countries, including Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, moving from a "Do Not Travel" advisory to "Reconsider your need to travel." This adjustment, announced on Wednesday, comes after the United States and Iran reached an interim agreement aimed at ending the conflict in the region.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong stated that while the security situation in the Middle East can deteriorate rapidly, the government assessed the current conditions in these nations as appropriate for the downgrade. However, she emphasized that Australians should still delay non-essential travel to the Gulf states.

The move is expected to remove a significant hurdle for major carriers like Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar Airways, and restore a vital aviation corridor for Australians traveling to and from Europe. Previously, the "Do Not Travel" warning meant most insurers refused to issue policies for flights via the Gulf. The Australian government also directed families of embassy staff in Israel and Lebanon to leave and offered voluntary departures for dependants of officials in Jordan, Qatar, and the UAE, while maintaining that embassies in Tel Aviv and Beirut would remain open.