More countries are being pulled into combat since the US and Israel began bombing Iran, trying to topple its regime. 

Tehran has sent strikes across the Middle East - in retaliation for the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Hezbollah is siding with Iran and has struck into Israel, which has shot back a wave of attacks on Lebanon.

MFAT is aware of 1750 New Zealanders in affected countries.

Kiwi journalist Perry Wilton is in Doha.

He says Iran claims it's mostly targeting US assets - but the attacks are unfocused.

"Everything from US military bases to residential apartment buildings, Kuwait Airport, has been really badly damaged."

LISTEN ABOVE

More countries are being pulled into combat since the US and Israel began bombing Iran, trying to topple its regime.&nbsp;
Tehran has sent strikes across the Middle East - in retaliation for the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Hezbollah is siding with Iran and has struck into Israel, which has shot back a wave of attacks on Lebanon.
MFAT is aware of 1750 New Zealanders in affected countries.
Kiwi journalist Perry Wilton is in Doha.
He says Iran claims it's mostly targeting US assets - but the attacks are unfocused.
"Everything from US military bases to residential apartment buildings, Kuwait Airport, has been really badly damaged."
LISTEN ABOVE

With a straight down the middle approach, Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive on Newstalk ZB delivers the very latest news and views to New Zealanders as they wrap up their day.

Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Perry Wilton: journalist speaks on ongoing Middle East crisis from Doha

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/35133778-1d3f-48be-82b3-b401005b87a7/transcript

There's concerns about what the ongoing conflict in the Middle East could do for oil prices and inflation.

Iran's sent retaliation strikes across the Middle East after US and Israeli attacks killed their Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamene.

Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen unpacked the short and long term concerns.

LISTEN ABOVE

There's concerns about what the ongoing conflict in the Middle East could do for oil prices and inflation.
Iran's sent retaliation strikes across the Middle East after US and Israeli attacks killed their Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamene.
Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen unpacked the short and long term concerns.
LISTEN ABOVE

Brad Olsen: Infometrics Principal Economist on the economic implications of the ongoing crisis in the Middle East

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/c2e4b539-f602-48b3-b39e-b4010074a2e0/transcript

Tonight on The Huddle, Trish Sherson of Sherson Willis PR and Child Fund CEO Josie Pagani joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! 

The US and Israel have launched strikes in Iran, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and kicking off more conflict. What do we make of this? How will this impact our economy?

The Government has given councils permission to authorise the killing of protected species under incoming RMA replacement bills, according to new reports. What do we make of this? Is this a good idea?

New research out of Australia has raised concerns about the microplastics in chewing gum. Should we be concerned about this?

LISTEN ABOVE

Tonight on The Huddle, Trish Sherson of Sherson Willis PR and Child Fund CEO Josie Pagani joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!&nbsp;
The US and Israel have launched strikes in Iran, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and kicking off more conflict. What do we make of this? How will this impact our economy?
The Government has given councils permission to authorise the killing of protected species under incoming RMA replacement bills, according to new reports. What do we make of this? Is this a good idea?
New research out of Australia has raised concerns about the microplastics in chewing gum. Should we be concerned about this?
LISTEN ABOVE

The Huddle: Should we be worried about chewing gum?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/03bfdfd0-dbd7-4de2-b4b8-b4010072ce06/transcript

Okay, let's talk about the debate Helen Clark has sparked on whether New Zealand should be condemning the US air strikes on Iran.

As you’ll have noticed, New Zealand hasn’t condemned the strikes. In fact, in a radio interview this morning, the Prime Minister said that our position aligns with Australia’s - and Australia has openly supported the strikes.

The logical conclusion, then, is that we support the strikes too, even if we’re not saying so explicitly.

That lack of condemnation has upset Helen Clark because, as she points out, the air strikes are illegal under international law. And she is right about that. But can anyone seriously argue that the strikes shouldn’t have happened?

Consider the counterfactual - the strikes didn’t happen at the weekend. Ayatollah Khamenei is still alive. He continues to kill tens of thousands of Iranians for protesting, continues to fund Hamas to attack Israel, continues to fund and support the Houthis as they cause turmoil in the Middle East, continues backing Hezbollah to create further instability, and continues causing trouble as far away as Australia, where Iran allegedly directed the firebombing of a synagogue in Melbourne just a few months ago.

This is exactly the same dilemma the world faced in Venezuela with the capture of Maduro. It shouldn’t have happened, it broke the rules - but no one is sad that someone broke the rules to do what many believed needed to be done.

Now, obviously, this doesn’t guarantee success. Bombing a country to force regime change almost never works.

What comes next could be worse. The disruption to the Middle East could be greater than any benefit gained. But all of those are unknowns right now.

What is known is this: the Iranian regime was murdering its own people, destabilising the region and attempting to cause disruption even further afield.

So yes, what happened at the weekend broke the rules. But tell me - are you upset that it did?

LISTEN ABOVE

Okay, let's talk about the debate Helen Clark has sparked on whether New Zealand should be condemning the US air strikes on Iran.
As you’ll have noticed, New Zealand hasn’t condemned the strikes. In fact, in a radio interview this morning, the Prime Minister said that our position aligns with Australia’s - and Australia has openly supported the strikes.
The logical conclusion, then, is that we support the strikes too, even if we’re not saying so explicitly.
That lack of condemnation has upset Helen Clark because, as she points out, the air strikes are illegal under international law. And she is right about that. But can anyone seriously argue that the strikes shouldn’t have happened?
Consider the counterfactual - the strikes didn’t happen at the weekend. Ayatollah Khamenei is still alive. He continues to kill tens of thousands of Iranians for protesting, continues to fund Hamas to attack Israel, continues to fund and support the Houthis as they cause turmoil in the Middle East, continues backing Hezbollah to create further instability, and continues causing trouble as far away as Australia, where Iran allegedly directed the firebombing of a synagogue in Melbourne just a few months ago.
This is exactly the same dilemma the world faced in Venezuela with the capture of Maduro. It shouldn’t have happened, it broke the rules - but no one is sad that someone broke the rules to do what many believed needed to be done.
Now, obviously, this doesn’t guarantee success. Bombing a country to force regime change almost never works.
What comes next could be worse. The disruption to the Middle East could be greater than any benefit gained. But all of those are unknowns right now.
What is known is this: the Iranian regime was murdering its own people, destabilising the region and attempting to cause disruption even further afield.
So yes, what happened at the weekend broke the rules. But tell me - are you upset that it did?
LISTEN ABOVE

Perspective with Heather du Plessis-Allan: Should we really be condemning the strikes on Iran?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/3fa845e8-f224-4639-9774-b401006d142a/transcript

Perry Wilton: journalist speaks on ongoing Middle East crisis from Doha

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