Australia news and politics recap June 24: Israel, Iran ceasefire hangs in balance as new missiles launched
Scroll down for the latest news and updates.
Key Events
Albanese responds to Iran sleeper cell warning
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says Australia’s national security threat level remains unchanged, despite reports that Iran could activate sleeper cells in Western nations following a US strike on Iranian nuclear sites.
“It is constantly monitored, but there’s been no change in the national security alert,” the Prime Minister told Sky News.
“We continue to have our national security agencies to monitor the situation.”
PM hopes ceasefire means Aussies in Middle East don’t need to flee for safety
Mr Albanese says he’s hopeful the ceasefire, if it holds, will ensure that the 4000 Australians in Iran and Israel wanting to leave “don’t feel the need to get to safety”.
As of Tuesday morning, he said there are 3000 in Iran and about 1000 in Israel trying to evacuate.
There had been a scheduled flight out of Israel “that wasn’t able to be fulfilled because of the security situation”.
“What we hope is that a more secure position, a ceasefire, will ensure that people don’t feel the need to get to safety,” he said.
He urged all Australians leaving the country to check in with Smartraveller, as he noted that the situation in the Middle East was fluid and commercial airlines were being impacted.
‘Leaders aren’t there’: PM defends decision not to attend NATO
The PM has also defended his decision not to go to NATO, which begins in the Netherlands on Tuesday, local time.
US President Donald Trump is still scheduled to attend. There were reports on Monday that Mr Trump was looking to secure a meeting with the IP4 leaders - NATO’s Indo-Pacific partners Australia, New Zealand, Korea, and Japan.
The New Zealand Prime Minister is the only leader attending, with other ministers representing other countries, including Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles for Australia.
“In terms of the IP4, three of the four leaders aren’t there. That was part of the decision process that we made,” he said, explaining his decision not to go.
“NATO is about NATO... It is appropriate that the Defence Minister attend the meeting.”
He says he will meet with Mr Trump at “a place and time that’s convenient for us”.
PM says Iranians have been ‘destructive force’ in Middle East
Mr Albanese has also reiterated his calls for Israel to allow aid into Gaza.
In response to a question about the legality of the US’ actions on Iran this week, after Tehran complained the strikes were not complicit with international law, the PM said the Iranians had been a “very destructive force in the region”.
“We want to see regional peace and security. We want to see a solution to... the Palestinian Question. We want to see the right of Israelis to live in secure borders in Israel, and we also want to see the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people fulfilled,” he said.
“We support Israel’s right to defend itself.
“(But) we haven’t been uncritical of Israel, where we believe that their actions have not been consistent. We, for example, continue to call for support for aid to go into Gaza, at the same time, of course, as we call for the hostages to be released.”
Albanese says he wants Israel-Iran ceasefire implemented
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has given more reaction to news about a ceasefire between Israel and Iran.
“What we want to see is the ceasefire announced by (United States) President (Donald) Trump implemented,” he said on Sky News.
“We do want to see dialogue and diplomacy replace any escalation.”
He went on to reject criticism that his Government had been too slow to respond to the US strikes in Iran, after he took more than 24 hours to make an official statement.
Mr Albanese brushed those aside, saying he runs a “considered, orderly government”.
“We were very clear for some period of time that Iran could not be allowed to have a nuclear weapon. We called for Iran to come to the table to ensure that the United States wouldn’t have to take the action that they did,” he said.
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.”
