Israel-Iran conflict and New Zealand response

The story so far

Israel and Iran traded air and missile strikes in June 2025, and Israeli strikes hit Iran's state broadcaster and a major uranium enrichment plant.^{16, 17, 21 Jun 2025} New Zealand's Foreign Minister Winston Peters called the military action extremely worrying, and the government gathered facts before taking an official position.^{23, 24 Jun 2025} Two New Zealand embassy staff and their families were evacuated by land to Azerbaijan, and the Tehran embassy was temporarily closed.^{19 Jun 2025} The New Zealand Defence Force sent a C-130J Hercules to the Middle East to help New Zealanders leave Iran and Israel, and it has been positioned there as a contingency.^{22, 26 Jun 2025}

Latest

Immigration New Zealand has received almost 300 offshore visa applications from Israeli, Palestinian and Iranian nationals since 1 June, most of them from Iranian nationals.^{6 Jul 2025} Finance Minister Nicola Willis has ruled out fuel subsidies, and economists have warned that petrol prices could rise if the conflict worsens.^{24 Jun 2025}

What's next

The government is seeking ways to evacuate the remaining New Zealanders in Iran and Israel once conditions become safe.^{19 Jun 2025}

Key moments

1. 17 Jun 2025Israeli strikes hit Iran's state broadcaster and a major uranium enrichment plant.
2. 17 Jun 2025Trump demands Iran's unconditional surrender as the conflict enters its sixth day.
3. 19 Jun 2025New Zealand embassy staff and families evacuated to Azerbaijan; Tehran embassy temporarily closed.
4. 22 Jun 2025US strikes three Iranian nuclear sites, including Fordow, Natanz and Esfahan.
5. 22 Jun 2025New Zealand Defence Force deploys a C-130J Hercules to the Middle East.
6. 24 Jun 2025Finance Minister rules out fuel subsidies as oil prices rise.
7. 24 Jun 2025Peters addresses Parliament, expressing grave concern and preferring diplomacy.
8. 25 Jun 2025No New Zealanders in Israel have taken up government evacuation options.
9. 6 Jul 2025Nearly 300 offshore visa applications received since 1 June, mostly from Iranians.

Written from the stories below; each sentence links to its sources.