US-Iran war live updates: Attacks renewed on Iran following death of Khamenei; Three US troops killed as death toll rises among Iranian civilians

Defence Minister Richard Marles says questions over the legality of strikes on Iran by the United States and Israel are questions for those nations, as he maintains the government’s support for the Iranian people.

“We support the United States in preventing Iran acquiring a nuclear capability. The UN Security Council has long been in a position of doing everything within its power to stop Iran acquiring that capability,” Marles told ABC Radio National this morning.

“Ultimately, the legality of these measures is a matter for both the United States and Israel to go through, but we support the United States in preventing Iran acquiring this [nuclear] capability.”

The US and Israel have said the attacks were a measure to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons, however experts have argued this contravenes international law. The United Nations charter prohibits members states from using force unless authorised by the Security Council or in the case of self-defence.

Earlier this morning Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the US and Israel would be responsible for explaining their justification for the attacks.

Asked whether the strikes against Iran were justified, Marles said: “We certainly regard the regime in Iran as being abhorrent, and we certainly support the United States in taking action to prevent Iran from being able to acquire a nuclear weapon and to prevent, to stop, its nuclear program. And more than that, we very much support the Iranian people in the way in which they have stood up to this regime. So we do support the action that the United States has taken, and we very much stand with the Iranian people in this moment.”