Australians planning to travel to the Middle East have received updated advice after US President Donald Trump struck a peace deal with Iran after months of conflict.
Warnings for Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) were reduced from ‘Do Not Travel’ to ‘Reconsider your need to travel’ on Wednesday.
Some areas within Israel remain ‘Do Not Travel’.
‘The Albanese Government’s number one priority will always be the safety and security of Australians,’ Foreign Minister Penny Wong said in a 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.’
Trump has announced a peace deal between the United States and Iran following four months of intermittent fighting in the Middle East, triggered by US and Israeli strikes against Iran in late February.
The official signing ceremony is due to happen in Switzerland on Friday.
In her statement, Ms Wong warned security in the Middle East ‘could deteriorate rapidly with little warning’.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong said warnings for Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have been reduced
Australians hoping to visit the five countries have been told to ‘reconsider your need to travel’, a lesser warning than ‘do not travel’ (Pictured, Emirates passengers in Sydney)
‘The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has assessed current conditions in Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE as appropriate to move to Level 3,’ she said.
‘Level 3 remains a high threshold. We continue to urge Australians to postpone non-essential travel.
‘Reconsider your need to travel’ also means ‘reconsider your need to transit’.’
The government advises travellers to keep visits as short as possible and avoid unnecessary activities.
Advice levels could be raised again if conditions deteriorate. Australians are urged to check Smartraveller for up-to-date information.
‘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.
DFAT continues to advise ‘Do Not Travel’ to Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria and Yemen, and ‘Reconsider your need to travel’ to Jordan, Oman and Saudi Arabia.
The developments appear to be a positive sign for Flight Centre Travel Group, which on Wednesday downgraded its earnings for the current financial year due to the Middle East conflict.
It comes after President Donald Trump struck a peace deal with Iran after months of conflict
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The company, which operates in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Canada and the UK, now expects an underlying profit before tax between $275million and $295million for 2025-26.
It had previously forecast an underlying result between $310million and $345million, compared to the prior year’s $286million result.
‘It has been driven by an external shock – the Middle East conflict disrupting peak leisure travel – not by a deterioration in our underlying business,’ managing director Graham Turner said in a statement to the stock exchange.
Flight Centre said the conflict mostly affected its fourth quarter leisure travel market, with earnings expected to fall by about $50million.
It cited cancellations and booking deferrals, weaker long-haul bookings and a shift to lower-margin routes.
‘Even after absorbing Q4 disruption, the group still expects an underlying profit broadly in line with FY25,’ Mr Turner said.
Flight Centre said the new peace deal between the US and Iran will give it a clearer runway into 2026/27 and a ‘significant earnings tailwind’.
Flight Centre also announced an up to $200million on-market share buyback, after its last one was completed in May.
Mr Turner said the buyback reflects the company’s view that it believes its shares, which closed on Tuesday at $11.81, are undervalued.
