NZ calls for resumption of negotiations with Iran following US strikes

Sunday, 1 March 2026

New Zealand is calling for the United States and Iran to resume negotiations following the US strikes on Iran.

But the country’s statement stops short of condemning the attack, earning the Prime Minister a rebuke from one of his predecessor’s, Helen Clark, who called the statement a “disgrace”.

The US and Israel launched a major attack on Iran on Saturday, and US President Donald Trump called on the Iranian public to “seize control of your destiny” by rising up against the Islamic theocracy that has ruled the nation since 1979. One strike hit a school and killed 100 children, according to the Iranian government.

The state broadcaster IRIb reported that the country’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had also been killed in the strikes.

Iran retaliated by firing missiles and drones toward Israel and US military bases in the Middle East.

The attacks came after several days of diplomatic talks concerning Iran’s nuclear programme facilitated by Oman.

In a statement, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters stopped short of supporting the US attacks, but did not condemn them either, saying that the Iranian Government had lost the support of its people.

“Iran has, for decades, defied the will and expectations of the international community. The legitimacy of a government rests on the support of its people. The Iranian regime has long since lost that support,” the statement reads.

“In this context, we acknowledge that the actions taken overnight by the US and Israel were designed to prevent Iran from continuing to threaten international peace and security.”

It also condemned “in the strongest possible terms” Iran’s counter attacks in the region.

“We condemn in the strongest terms Iran's indiscriminate retaliatory attacks on Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan. We cannot risk further regional escalation, and civilian life must be protected.”

It called for a resumption in negotiations to end conflict in the region and “adherence to international law”.

“We join the international community in hoping this crisis ends as quickly as possible,” the statement reads.

“We call for a resumption of negotiations and adherence to international law - and we urge the Iranian leadership to seek a negotiated solution that returns Iran to the community of nations.”

The two leaders called for Kiwis in the Middle East to shelter in place.

“New Zealand Embassies in the region are closely monitoring the situation and will continue to provide support to New Zealanders. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade advises New Zealanders in the region to shelter in place. New Zealanders should follow the advice of local authorities and register on SafeTravel.”

In a brief media conference, Peters said New Zealand had not been warned in advance of the attacks and would not send a rescue flight at this point as it was too dangerous.

He suggested there were several dozen Kiwis in Iran currently and did not rule out a repatriation flight at some point in the future.

He said the Government had been telling Kiwis to leave Iran for several weeks now, but was wary of giving firm advice to people now.

'It will be very difficult in the risky cities. But if you're out in the countryside and can get away, give it a go. Otherwise, try and say safe, stay inside, and we'll see how things develop. But it's very, very difficult for us, this far away from personal circumstances to tell people what to do,' Peters said.

Peters said that Iran had been a consistent sponsor of terrorism and while that was not

He declined to “pontificate” further on the legality of the US attacks.

Former PM calls statement ‘a disgrace’

Former Prime Minister Helen Clark said the New Zealand statement was servile and did not address the fact the US attack was a clear breach of international law.

In a tweet, Clark said the statement was a “disgrace”.

The [Government] knows full well that international law has been breached even though negotiations were under way. It knows that [the USA] walked away from the last nuclear agreement with Iran. Why the servility?“

University of Otago foreign policy professor Robert Patman said he agreed with Clark’s statement in a further tweet.

“This is spot-on. The latest US-Israeli attack on Iran was illegal, premediated, and reckless. It also seems to endorse the principle that 'might is right' in international affairs. Given NZ supports a rule-based intern. order, it cannot remain indifferent to such actions,” Patman wrote.

Labour condemns both attack and counter-attack

Labour leader Chris Hipkins said his party was deeply concerned by the situation in Iran.

“The attacks on Iran and the retaliatory strikes undermine international peace and security and put civilian lives at risk,” Hipkins said.

“We recognise the courage of Iranians who have taken to the streets demanding change, at enormous personal risk and we condemn the serious human rights violations that have been perpetrated against them. Military escalation does not produce the stability the region needs.”

He said New Zealand must urge all parties - including close allies - to show restraint, pursue diplomatic solutions and first and foremost, protect the rights and safety of Iranian civilians.

“New Zealand must use its voice on the world stage to call for de-escalation, for a return to negotiations, and for the right of the Iranian people to determine their own future.”

Greens: Attack ‘illegal’

Green Party Co-Leader Marama Davidson condemned the US-Israel attack on Iran saying it was an illegal and unprovoked act against the people of the region and any genuine pathway to peace.

“This latest escalation in aggression is part of a decades’ long pattern of behaviour of the US dragging the region into more wars, violence, and bloodshed.

“The wider region has immediately been drawn into this violence, with hundreds reported dead in only a single day. The idea that it’s okay to bomb other countries because you don’t like their leader is reprehensible.”

“The Prime Minister’s failure to condemn Trump’s illegal actions again demonstrates his lack of leadership or moral courage, and willingness to act against New Zealander’s values,” she said.

“The Green Party urges Luxon’s Government to condemn illegal warmongering, and unreservedly advocate for diplomacy, international law, and peace for the Iranian people.”

How other world leaders are reacting

New Zealand’s statement is slightly less supportive of the US strikes than those issued by Australia and Canada.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese offered more direct support to the US strikes in a statement.

“We support the United States acting to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and to prevent Iran continuing to threaten international peace and security.”

Canada’s Mark Carney used similar terms to express his support, writing: “Canada supports the United States acting to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and to prevent its regime from further threatening international peace and security.”

The “E3” group of the United Kingdom, France, and Germany have been less directly supportive, but like New Zealand have condemned the counter-attacks from Iran and called for a negotiated solution.

“We condemn Iranian attacks on countries in the region in the strongest terms. Iran must refrain from indiscriminate military strikes. We call for a resumption of negotiations and urge the Iranian leadership to seek a negotiated solution. Ultimately, the Iranian people must be allowed to determine their future,” they said.

Later, at an emergency security meeting, Macron said France was “neither warned nor involved” in the strikes. He called for intensified efforts for a negotiated solution, saying “no one can think that the questions of Iran’s nuclear program, ballistic activity, regional destabilisation will be settled by strikes alone.”

The 22-nation Arab League called the Iranian attacks “a blatant violation of the sovereignty of countries that advocate for peace and strive for stability.”

That coalition of nations has historically condemned both Israel and Iran for actions it says risk destabilising the region.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry called the strikes“a pre-planned and unprovoked act of armed aggression against a sovereign and independent UN member state.” The ministry accused Washington and Tel Aviv of “hiding behind” concerns about Iran’s nuclear program while actually pursuing regime change.

Similarly, China’s government said it was “highly concerned” about the US and Israeli strikes on Iran and called for an immediate halt to the military action and a return to negotiations. “Iran’s sovereignty, security and territorial integrity should be respected,” a Chinese Foreign Ministry statement said.

– With AP