Putin plays with f ire in his new doctrine
Of late Vladimir Putin has shifted Russia’s nuclear doctrine to a more directly and openly retaliatory posture in response to any attack by Ukraine or any NATO country using longer-range US missiles.
The Australian government on Wednesday said that three citizens were detained in Iran, the latest in a series of Westerners to be seized by authorities in Tehran.
“The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing consular assistance to the families of three Australians detained in Iran,” a spokesperson told AFP.
One of the prisoners is an Australian university lecturer. A British-Australian blogger and her boyfriend were also detained by Iranian authorities in a separate incident.
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It is not clear if the three have been charged. One of the women is reported to have been in detention for up to a year.
The news of the trio’s detention comes after Australia announced that it would join a US-led mission to protect shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Earlier in August this year, Prime Minister Scott Morrison had announced a “modest” contribution to the controversial mission — including a frigate, a P8 maritime surveillance aircraft and support staff — which will also involve British forces.
Earlier this week the Australian government updated its travel advice for Iran to “reconsider your need to travel” and “do not travel” to areas near the border with Iraq and Afghanistan.
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