The chancellor confirms the stability of the security situation in Austria while monitoring energy prices.
The Austrian government held a series of high-level security meetings in light of the developments of the war in Iran, where the National Security Council met after an early session of the crisis management board at the Federal Chancellery to discuss the implications of the escalation on the country's security and energy supplies. According to the Austrian news agency APA, Chancellor Christian Stocker confirmed that the security situation in Austria has not deteriorated, and the terrorism alert level will remain at four out of five, as it has been since the Hamas attack in October 2023.
Stocker explained during a joint press conference with Vice Chancellor Andreas Babler and Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger that the government focused on three main areas, the first of which is the repatriation of Austrian citizens from crisis areas. In this context, a return flight from Muscat carrying 151 people headed to Vienna with a stop in Cairo, while two additional flights from Riyadh and Muscat on chartered planes were planned.
The second axis was represented in assessing the internal security situation, where the advisor emphasized that the national intelligence agencies are closely monitoring developments, confirming that there are no indications of an increasing threat within the country. The third axis was the energy file, where he confirmed that gas supplies are stable and stocks are full, but he acknowledged that price developments are unpredictable amid ongoing escalation, pointing out that the government retains the option to intervene if prices experience sharp increases.
For his part, Babler described the situation in the Gulf region as dangerous, criticizing at the same time the military strikes carried out by Israel and the United States, considering them inconsistent with international law, and calling for de-escalation and proposing Vienna as a potential venue for negotiations based on its diplomatic traditions.
For her part, Meinl-Reisinger emphasized that the security of Austrian citizens in the region is a top priority, stressing that Austria and Europe have no interest in further escalation, and condemned the Iranian attacks on neighboring countries, reiterating the importance of adhering to international law.