Iran war updates: ‘World Peace’ Trump says as Israel confirms Lebanon not included in US-Iran ceasefire deal

An Australian journalist and Energy Minister Chris Bowen have clashed at a Sydney press conference dedicated to updating the nation’s fuel security in the wake of the Iran war.

7NEWS Liam Bartlett had peppered Mr Bowen with multiple questions about his “renewables obsession”.

He also claimed the minister had “continuously rejected our approach” for a sit-down interview after sending 13 emails.

“Why can’t you sit down and answer open, honest questions?” he said, labelling him “hypocritical”.

Mr Bowen fired back, telling him to show a “little bit more respect for your colleagues” who were also waiting to ask questions.

“I’ve held a press conference every day. This is the first press conference you’ve been to ask me a question,” Mr Bowen said.

“Renewable energy is a secure form of energy. The Australian sun cannot be interrupted by a war or anything else. Solar energy has to travel 150 million kilometres from the sun. It doesn’t have to travel the 150 kilometres of the Straits of Hormuz,” he said.

“While we’re building that secure renewable energy, obviously, we continue to ensure that our most immediate task is energy security.”

Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong have issued a joint-statement welcoming the two-week ceasefire deal over the US-Israel-Iran war.

“The Australian Government has been calling for de-escalation and an end to the conflict for some time now,” they stated.

“Iran’s de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz, coupled with its attacks on commercial vessels, civilian infrastructure, and oil and gas facilities, is causing unprecedented energy supply shocks and impacting oil and fuel prices.

“We have been clear the longer the war goes on, the more significant the impact on the global economy will be, and the greater the human cost.

“We thank and support the work of negotiators, including Pakistan, Egypt, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia, in advancing de-escalation efforts.”

They stated that they wanted the ceasefire upheld, a resolution to the conflict, and for all parties to “uphold international humanitarian law and protect civilian life”.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has labelled his conversation with Premier Li Qiang of China overnight about the global energy crisis as “constructive”.

“It’s certainly a very constructive conversation that I had with the Chinese Premier last night,” the PM told Sky in a special sit-down interview on Wednesday.

“It went across the full range of topics. I don’t go into all of the details of private conversations that I have with leaders, but it was a very constructive conversation.

“It was certainly a positive discussion about the importance of trade between our two nations.”

Anthony Albanese said, despite the war in the Middle East, the United States remained Australia’s most important ally.

It comes after the US President has publicly criticised Australia’s lack of support in Iran and in his pursuit to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

“They remain our most important ally,” he told Sky on Wednesday.

“The relationship between our two nations is a relationship on many levels between leaders.

“I’ve had a constructive relationship with President Trump, but it’s also between our armed forces, between our economies and between business people and people-to-people links as well.

“We are two great democracies, and that will continue into the future.”

Anthony Albanese has labelled US President Donald Trump’s threats to target civilian infrastructure as an “extraordinary statement” and inappropriate rhetoric.

Speaking to Sky News on Wednesday, Mr Albanese labelled a ceasefire as “positive” and said, as the conflict continued to harm the global energy stability, he wanted “to see a resolution”.

“The potential of damage to civilian infrastructure in Iran was an extraordinary statement to make,” he said.

“I don’t think it’s appropriate to use language such as that from the President of the United States, and I think it will cause some concern.”

Benchmark oil futures plummeted, and Wall Street equity futures surged on Wednesday morning, after US President Donald Trump said he agreed to suspend bombing on Iran for a period of two weeks, subject to Iran agreeing to open the Strait of Hormuz.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index jumped 2.6 per cent to 9955 points in morning trade, led higher by big gains in banking, tech, and mining stocks. The only sector lower was energy with a 7.5 per cent fall.

“We received a 10-point proposal from Iran, and believe it is a workable basis on which to negotiate,” Mr Trump posted to his Truth Social channel.

“Almost all of the various points of past contention have been agreed to between the United States and Iran, but a two week period will allow the Agreement to be finalized and consummated.”

News reports suggested Iran agreed to a conditional reopening of the Strait of Hormuz for two weeks. Brent crude oil futures tumbled 6 per cent on the news to $US102.61, with US WTI oil sinking 16 per cent to $US94.80. Gold also jumped 2.3 per cent to $US4814 an ounce.

Risk bellwether Bitcoin jumped 4.5 per cent to $US71,972. Futures in the tech-heavy Nasdaq Index in the US jumped 660 points or 2.7 per cent.

The Australian dollar rose 1.6 per cent to buy $US70.2 cents.

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US President Donald Trump has shared a statement from Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, which confirms safe passage will be provided in the Strait of Hormuz with coordination from the Iranian Navy.

“On behalf of the Islamic Republic of Iran, I express gratitude and appreciation for my dear brothers HE Prime Minister of Pakistan Sharif and HE Field Marshal Munir for their tireless efforts to end the war in the region.

“If attacks against Iran are halted, our Powerful Armed Forces will cease their defensive operations.

“For a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordination with Iran’s Armed Forces and with due consideration of technical limitations.”

A disputed statement allegedly from Iran’s Supreme National Security Council has surfaced online, highly critical of US President Donald Trump.

“The enemy has suffered an undeniable, historic and crushing defeat in its cowardly, illegal and criminal war against the Iranian nation.

“Iran achieved a great victory and forced the criminal America to accept its 10-point plan, in which the United States is committed in principle to guaranteeing non-aggression, continuing Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz, accepting enrichment, lifting all primary and secondary sanctions, terminating all resolutions of the Security Council and the Board of Governors, paying Iran compensation, withdrawing American combat forces from the region and stopping the war on all fronts, including against the heroic Lebanese Islamic resistance.

“We congratulate all the people of Iran on this victory and emphasise that until the details of the victory are finalised, there is still a need for perseverance and prudence on the part of authorities and for maintaining the unity and solidarity of the Iranian people.”

Mr Trump has taken to Truth Social to say the response is fraudulent.

Reports have emerged that Israel, which is also at war with Iran, has agreed to a ceasefire too.

CNN broadcast the claim on US TV, claiming that an unnamed White House official has confirmed the development.

Neither the US nor Israel have issues a statement on this.

Moments after US President Donald Trump announced his agreement to a ceasefire, Iranian State TV was already attempting to control the narrative.

On IRIN, a host reported the US President’s Truth Social post, saying: “Trump announces two-week ceasefire accepting Iran’s conditions to end war.”

It then also spoke of “Trump’s humiliating retreat from anti-Iran rhetoric”.

Iran is yet to release an official statement on the ceasefire.