The Rudd government could be thrown a lifeline as it tries to solve its border protection woes, with reports Indonesia plans to clamp down on Iranians entering the country.
Indonesia's justice minister has reportedly signed a letter that will stop people from Iran receiving a visa on arrival in the South-East Asian nation, the ABC reports.
A spokeswoman for the prime minister's office told AAP that Mr Rudd raised this issue directly with Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono during recently bilateral talks in Jakarta.
It's not clear however whether Mr Rudd has seen the letter, or is even aware of it yet.
It comes as the government is expected to announce a new asylum seeker strategy, centred on national, regional and global policies, in coming days.
Iranians, like visitors from a number of countries, can currently pay to receive a visa upon arriving in Indonesia.
But the Australian government has raised concerns there were more economic migrants, particularly from Iran, coming to Australia on boats provided by people smugglers in Indonesia.
If enacted, this ruling could have significant ramifications for the federal government as it tries to curb boat arrivals and address its biggest policy weakness.
Opposition immigration spokesman Scott Morrison on Thursday said Iranians were the dominant group arriving by boats from Indonesia at the moment.
"The fact that they can get visas on arrival in Indonesia is an issue," he told ABC's 7.30 Report earlier on Thursday.
"But that's a sovereign decision of the Indonesian government, just as we have sovereign decisions on ours.
"We are not going to hand over a right to veto to Indonesia, any more than they would to us."
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