Australia news and politics live: Israel-Iran ceasefire begins as medics respond to missile strikes
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Key Events
No reports of Israeli attacks after 4am local time
There have been no reports of Israeli attacks on Iran since 4am local time, which aligns with what Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi indicated earlier in a social media post — that Iran would stop fighting at 4am if Israel did.
Israeili airstrikes targeted dozens of sites across Tehran, resulting in intense explosions, shortly after US President Donald Trump announced the two sides had agreed to a ceasefire.
Mr Trump said the ceasefire would begin once both nations had completed their “final missions”.
Mr Araghchi thanked the Iranian Armed Forces in a post on X for defending their country until “their last drop of blood, and who responded to any attack by the enemy until the very last minute”.
Iran says Armed Forces punished Israel until the ‘very last minute’
In a second social media post, Iran’s Foreign Affairs Minister Abbas Araghchi said the Armed Forces continued “to punish Israel” until the very last minute.
The post came after the Mr Araghchi said Iran would halt its response if Israel stopped its “illegal aggression” after 4am (Tehran time).
“Together with all Iranians, I thank our brave Armed Forces who remain to defend our dear country until their last drop of blood, and who responded to any attack by the enemy until the very last minute.”
Israel says ‘there is no agreement on any ceasefire’
Iran’s Foreign Affairs Minister Abbas Araghchi says there is “no agreement” on any ceasefire between Israel and Iran.
However, he said that Iran will stop its response if Israel “stops its illegal aggression” after 4am Tehran time. It is currently 5am in Tehran.
His statement comes after US President Donald Trump claimed Israel and Iran has agreed to a “complete and total” ceasefire.
“As Iran has repeatedly made clear: Israel launched war on Iran, not the other way around,” Mr Araghchi wrote on X.
“As of now, there is NO ‘agreement’ on any ceasefire or cessation of military operations.
“The final decision on the cessation of our military operations will be made later.”
Australia to monitor Middle East conflicts impact on aid efforts
International Development Minister Anne Aly says Australia will continue to monitor conflict in the Middle East and the potential impact on the aid access to the region.
As the conflict has expanded to Iran and overnight into Qatar after a US base was struck, Dr Aly reiterated calls for unimpeded access for aid into Gaza.
“Australia is concerned about any escalation in the region. We continue to make assessments on (what) we can do to further assist civilians impacted by conflict,” Dr Aly said.
“We continue to call for the full, immediate resumption of aid into Gaza, in line with the binding orders of the International Court of Justice.”
Australia has provided over $110 million in humanitarian support since the deadly October 7 terror attack, including recently partnering with a Jordanian organisation to assist with medical aid.
“Our aid partners in Gaza are working under extremely difficult circumstances,” she said.
“We deliberately partner with organisations that have a proven track record of getting aid to people who need it.”
Vance learns of Trump’s truce agreement on live TV
US Vice President JD Vance was speaking live on Fox News when US President Donald Trump announced a “complete and total” ceasefire between Israel and Iran, saying the President has “hit the reset button” to bring peace to the Middle East.
Reacting in real time while speaking to Bret Baier on Fox News, the US VP said: “We were actually working on that just as I left the White House.”
“That is good news that the President was able to get that across the finish line.”
Qatar secured Iran’s agreement to ceasefire deal: White House official says
Details are surfacing around the ceasefire deal struck between Israel and Iran.
A senior White House official told Reuters that Qatar’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammad bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, secured Tehran’s agreement during a call with Iranian officials.
The phone call reportedly came after US President Donald Trump told Qatar’s emir that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed to the deal and asked for Doha’s help in persuading Tehran to come to the table.
Israel reportedly agreed to the deal so long as Iran did not launch any further attacks.
Neither Israel nor Iran has officially confirmed they have agreed to a deal.
Trump says he expects ceasefire will last ‘forever’
US President Donald Trump has said it’s been a “wonderful day for the world” in an exclusive phone interview with NBC News after announcing the ceasefire between Israel and Iran.
“It’s a great day for America. It’s a great day for the Middle East. I’m very happy to have been able to get the job done,” he said.
“A lot of people were dying, and it was only going to get worse. It would have brought the whole Middle East down.”
When asked how long the ceasefire would last, the US President responded: “I think the ceasefire is unlimited. It’s going to go forever.”
He added that he does not believe Israel and Iran “will ever be shooting at each other again.”
Israel and Iran yet to confirm ceasefire deal
Neither Israel nor Iran has confirmed they have agreed to a ceasefire following US President Donald Trump’s social media announcement on early Tuesday morning.
Explosions continued to shake dozens of targets in Tehran following the announcement, while Israeli Defence Forces extended their evacuation order for civilians.
In his Truth Social post claiming a ceasefire deal had been reached, Mr Trump said it would would take approximately six hours for both nations to complete “final missions” that are already underway.
Push for YouTube ban for under 16s: eSafety Commissioner
eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant has called for YouTube to be included in the Australian Government’s planned social media ban for under 16s.
The online video sharing platform is currently exempt from the ban, which will require users to prove they are 16 or older to access social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram from December.
“Given the known risk of harms on YouTube, the similarity of its functionality to other online services, and without sufficient evidence demonstrating that YouTube provides beneficial experiences for children under 16, providing a specific carve out for YouTube appears to be inconsistent with the purpose of the act,” Ms Inman Grant wrote in her advice to the Government.
She told ABC’s Radio National Breakfast that she was “surprised” by the Government’s decision to exclude YouTube from the ban, which was reportedly given due to the role it plays in education and teaching.
Ms Inman Grant is expected to address the National Press Club today, where she’ll release her department’s latest research.
More PBS access to cystic fibrosis ‘wonder drug’
More Australians living with cystic fibrosis will have affordable access to a life changing treatment option under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) from 1 July 2025, Health Minister Mark Butler has announced.
The PBS listing for Trikafta® is to be expanded to include patients who have at least one CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene mutation that is responsive to treatment, sparing about 180 Australians from costs of more than $250,000 for the treatment.
Mr Butler told ABC News Breakfast that the “wonder drug” worked within 24 or 48 hours to treat the debilitating condition and transform a person’s life.
“Expanding this for another 200 or so Australians means that almost 80 per cent of people living with cystic fibrosis now have access to this this drug through the PBS.
“It just reinforces the importance of our world-leading medicine system here in Australia,” he said.
