The United States and Israel have launched a major attack on Iran, with US President Donald Trump claiming the attack killed Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Peters said there were around 34 to 38 New Zealanders registered in Iran, but there would be "many more." The government has long told New Zealanders in Iran to leave, a message Peters reiterated if people were able to do so. The government earlier released a joint statement on Iran from Peters and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. "We condemn in the strongest terms Iran’s indiscriminate retaliatory attacks on Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan.

Source: Otago Daily Times February 28, 2026 21:21 UTC