The Australian government has downgraded its travel advice for several Middle Eastern countries following the signing of a peace deal between the United States and Iran. The warning level was lowered for Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), although non-essential travel should still be avoided.
Travel warning levels adjusted
The Level 4 “Do Not Travel” warning for these countries was downgraded to a Level 3 “Reconsider your need to travel” on Wednesday. Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the lowered level “remains a high threshold”.
“If you need to transit these locations, stay as short a time as possible and eliminate unnecessary activities,” Wong said. She warned that the situation “could deteriorate rapidly with little warning”.
Australians are still urged to avoid any travel in some areas within Israel, where the advice remains at Level 4. Travel to Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria and Yemen also carries Level 4 advice. The advice level for Jordan, Oman and Saudi Arabia remains at Level 3.
Peace deal triggers downgrade
The change comes after the United States and Iran signed a 14-point Memorandum of Understanding to halt hostilities and enter a 60-day negotiating period. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who helped mediate the deal, confirmed it had been signed by both parties and would take immediate effect. However, a signing ceremony will still take place in Switzerland on Friday.
President Donald Trump warned the US could resume military action if Iran failed to comply with the agreement. Jonathan Wachtel, a former senior policy adviser at the US mission to the United Nations, argued the proposal should not yet be viewed as a genuine peace agreement. “Technically, this is not an agreement, as it were. It’s a deal to try to get to an agreement,” Wachtel said.
Wong supported the delicate deal in her statement. “Australia welcomes the agreement between the United States and Iran and continues to encourage all parties to pursue a durable and lasting peace through dialogue and diplomacy,” Wong said.
Travel insurance concerns
The Level 4 warning had created major complications around travel insurance for Australians transiting through the region. More than 150,000 Australians have transited through the Middle East in the past six weeks alone.
“We also urge Australians planning to travel to make sure they have travel insurance and to closely read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) for what is and isn’t covered,” Wong said. All travellers are urged to keep up to date with the latest advice on the Smartraveller website.
