Anthony Albanese has confirmed that three Australians were on a US submarine that sank an Iranian warship, after the Labor government earlier refused to comment on reports that emerged on Thursday.

The prime minister said the Australian defence force personnel were on the submarine as part of an Aukus training program.

But he maintained that Australian forces were in compliance with international law, and said: “No Australian personnel have participated in any offensive action against Iran.”

Asked about implications for international law in the US and Israeli strikes on Iran, Albanese said Australia was “comfortable” with assessing that Tehran posed a threat on three levels.

“We wouldn’t normally confirm such an issue, but given our NSC [national security committee of cabinet] meetings, in the public interest I can confirm that there were three Australian personnel onboard that vessel,” Albanese told Sky News Australia on Friday.

“I can confirm also, though, that no Australian personnel have participated in any offensive action against Iran.

“These are longstanding third-country arrangements that have been in place for a long period of time. And what they do is ensure that Australian defence force personnel, where they’re embedded in third countries’ defence assets, they act in accordance with Australian law, with Australian policy.”

The Australian government previously refused to disclose whether Australian sailors or officers were onboard the US attack submarine that torpedoed and sank an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean on Wednesday, killing at least 87 people.

The Greens senator David Shoebridge called the prime minister’s claim that no Australian personnel were involved in offensive action “extraordinary” and said it was inevitable that Australian personnel would be involved in US action.

“This makes Australia obviously, clearly, unambiguously, part of an illegal war, part of a war that is breaking down the norms of international law and making the world a less safe place,” he said.

“It is as sure as day follows night that Australians throughout the US military are actively involved, part of the United States and Israel’s illegal war in Iran.”

Shoebridge said Australia was a “hostage” not an ally in the relationship with the US, with the nation “dragged into this war without even a decision being made inside the cabinet room”.

Albanese said the three Australians onboard the submarine were there as part of the Aukus defence pact training program.

“It’s one of the big pluses behind the Aukus arrangements, Australian personnel getting experience across a range of assets, including being onboard nuclear-powered submarines, but also the exchange that’s occurring across the board.”

More than 50 Australian sailors and officers are serving in the US attack submarine fleet, a training regimen that is part of preparations for Australia to command its own nuclear-powered submarines under the Aukus deal.

According to the Royal Australian Navy, one in 10 crew members onboard US Navy attack submarines is Australian.

The US submarine strike on the Islamic Republic of Iran Ship Dena was the first time an enemy vessel has been sunk by a US torpedo since the second world war, the US defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, told a Pentagon briefing.

“An American submarine sank an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters. It was sunk by a torpedo, a quiet death.”

Hegseth has promised “sheer destruction” for the Iranian regime.

“America is winning decisively, devastatingly and without mercy … they are toast and they know it,” he said. (The Guardian)

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