Hours after attack on U.S. base, Trump says Iran and Israel will begin a ceasefire
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Trump says Iran and Israel agree to a ‘complete and total’ ceasefire to end 12-day war
Iran and Israel agree to a ‘complete and total’ ceasefire to end 12-day war. U.S. President Donald Trump announced the deal on June 23. Iran denies ever having a nuclear weapons program but says if it wanted to, world leaders “wouldn’t be able to stop us’ Israeli officials had signaled Israel was looking to wrap up its campaign in Iran soon and had passed the message on to the United States. Israeli military issued two evacuation warnings in less than two hours to residents of areas in the Iranian capital Tehran, one late June 23 and one early June 24. US stock market opens with gains on June 24, easing fears of supply disruption in the region. Iran’s nuclear programme is not expected to be affected by the cease-fire, according to the U.N.’s nuclear watchdog, which is responsible for overseeing the development of nuclear weapons in the Middle East. Iran has said it will not give up its nuclear weapons programme despite the ceasefire.
People wave Iranian flags as they celebrate Iran’s attack on a US military base in the street in Tehran, on June 23. PHOTO: ARASH KAMOOSHI/NYTIMES
Trump says Iran and Israel agree to a ‘complete and total’ ceasefire to end 12-day war
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WASHINGTON/DOHA/ISTANBUL – US President Donald Trump announced on June 23 a “complete and total” ceasefire between Israel and Iran, potentially ending the 12-day war that saw millions flee Tehran and prompted fears of further escalation in the war-torn region.
Israel, joined by the United States on the weekend, has carried out attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities, after alleging Tehran was getting close to obtaining a nuclear weapon.
“On the assumption that everything works as it should, which it will, I would like to congratulate both Countries, Israel and Iran, on having the Stamina, Courage, and Intelligence to end, what should be called, ‘THE 12 DAY WAR’,” Mr Trump wrote on his Truth Social site.
While an Iranian official confirmed that Tehran had agreed to a ceasefire, there was no immediate comment yet from Israel.
A senior White House official said Israel had agreed so long as Iran does not launch further attacks and that Mr Trump brokered the deal in a call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Mr Trump appeared to suggest that Israel and Iran would have some time to complete any missions that are underway, at which point the ceasefire would begin in a staged process.
Iran denies ever having a nuclear weapons program but Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has said that if it wanted to, world leaders “wouldn’t be able to stop us”.
Israel, which is not a party to the international Non-Proliferation Treaty, is the only country in the Middle East believed to have nuclear weapons. Israel does not deny or confirm that.
Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani secured Tehran’s agreement during a call with Iranian officials, an official briefed on the negotiations told Reuters on June 24.
US Vice-President J.D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US special envoy Steve Witkoff were in direct and indirect contact with the Iranians, the White House official said.
Neither Iran’s UN mission nor the Israeli embassy in Washington immediately responded to separate requests for comment from Reuters.
Hours earlier, three Israeli officials had signaled Israel was looking to wrap up its campaign in Iran soon and had passed the message on to the United States.
Mr Netanyahu had told government ministers whose discussions ended early on June 24 not to speak publicly, Israel’s Channel 12 television reported.
Markets reacted favourably to the news.
S&P 500 futures rose 0.4 per cent late on June 23, suggesting traders expect the US stock market to open with gains on June 24.
US crude futures fell in early Asian trading hours on June 24 to their lowest level in more than a week after Mr Trump said a ceasefire had been agreed, relieving worries of supply disruption in the region.
End to the fighting?
There did not appear to be calm yet in the region.
The Israeli military issued two evacuation warnings in less than two hours to residents of areas in the Iranian capital Tehran, one late on June 23 and one early on June 24.
Israeli Army radio reported early on June 24 that alarms were activated in the southern Golan Heights area due to fears of hostile aircraft intrusion.
Earlier on June 23, Mr Trump said he would encourage Israel to proceed towards peace after dismissing Iran’s attack on an American air base that caused no injuries and thanking Tehran for the early notice of the strikes.
Iran’s handling of the attack recalled earlier clashes with the United States and Israel, with Tehran seeking a balance between saving face with a military response but without provoking a cycle of escalation it cannot afford.
Tehran appears to have achieved that goal.
Iran’s attack came after US bombers dropped 30,000-pound bunker-busters on Iranian underground nuclear facilities at the weekend, joining Israel’s air war.
Much of Tehran’s population of 10 million has fled after days of bombing.
The Trump administration maintains that its aim was solely to destroy Iran’s nuclear programme, not to open a wider war.
“Iran was very close to having a nuclear weapon,” Mr Vance said in an interview on Fox News’ Special Report with Bret Baier.
“Now Iran is incapable of building a nuclear weapon with the equipment they have because we destroyed it,” Mr Vance said.
But in a social media post on June 22, Mr Trump spoke of toppling the hardline clerical rulers who have been Washington’s principal foes in the Middle East since Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Israel, however, had made clear that its strikes on Evin prison – a notorious jail for housing political prisoners – and other targets in Tehran were intended to hit the Iranian ruling apparatus broadly, and its ability to sustain power. REUTERS
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Trump Announces Israel-Iran Truce After Attack on US Base in Qatar
Iran did not immediately acknowledge any ceasefire and heavy Israeli strikes continued in Tehran and other cities early Tuesday. Iran launched a missile attack on a U.S. military base in Qatar, retaliating for the American bombing of three key Iranian nuclear facilities. Hours earlier, three Israeli officials had signaled Israel was looking to wrap up its campaign in Iran soon and had passed the message on to the United States.“This is a War that could have gone on for years, and destroyed the entire Middle East, but it didn’t, and never will!”
Trump outlined a phased ceasefire mechanism. Iran will begin the ceasefire, followed by Israel 12 hours later, culminating in a formal end to hostilities after 24 hours.
“Officially, Iran will start the CEASEFIRE and, upon the 12th Hour, Israel will start the CEASEFIRE and, upon the 24th Hour, an Official END to THE 12 DAY WAR will be saluted by the World,” Trump declared.
Iran did not immediately acknowledge any ceasefire and heavy Israeli strikes continued in Tehran and other cities early Tuesday.
Earlier Monday, Iran launched a missile attack on a U.S. military base in Qatar, retaliating for the American bombing of three key Iranian nuclear facilities.
Hours earlier, three Israeli officials had signaled Israel was looking to wrap up its campaign in Iran soon and had passed the message on to the United States.
Here’s what the US president said on social media:
“CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE! It has been fully agreed by and between Israel and Iran that there will be a Complete and Total CEASEFIRE (in approximately 6 hours from now, when Israel and Iran have wound down and completed their in progress, final missions!), for 12 hours, at which point the War will be considered, ENDED!
“Officially, Iran will start the CEASEFIRE and, upon the 12th Hour, Israel will start the CEASEFIRE and, upon the 24th Hour, an Official END to THE 12 DAY WAR will be saluted by the World. During each CEASEFIRE, the other side will remain PEACEFUL and RESPECTFUL.
“On the assumption that everything works as it should, which it will, I would like to congratulate both Countries, Israel and Iran, on having the Stamina, Courage, and Intelligence to end, what should be called, “THE 12 DAY WAR.”
“This is a War that could have gone on for years, and destroyed the entire Middle East, but it didn’t, and never will! God bless Israel, God bless Iran, God bless the Middle East, God bless the United States of America, and GOD BLESS THE WORLD!”
Live updates: Trump says Israel and Iran have agreed to ‘total ceasefire’
Iran has vowed to respond after the U.S. used warplanes and submarines to attack three Iranian nuclear facilities. The full impact of the strikes on Tehran’s nuclear program was still not entirely clear as of early this morning. President Trump has warned that any Iranian retaliation “will be met with even greater force than what was unleashed”
The strike, dubbed Iran Operation Midnight Hammer, was launched Saturday, with more than 125 U.S. military aircraft involved in the operation.
In an address to the nation on Saturday night, Trump lauded the attack as a success, saying Iran’s key nuclear enrichment facilities had been “completely and totally obliterated.” The full impact of the U.S. strikes on Tehran’s nuclear program was still not entirely clear as of early this morning.
Iran has vowed to respond, saying it “reserves all options,” which could include targeting U.S. bases in the region or disrupting global trade with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important oil chokepoints. Trump has warned that any Iranian retaliation against U.S. assets “will be met with even greater force than what was unleashed” in Washington’s attacks over the weekend.
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Australia news live: PM welcomes Trump’s announcement of ceasefire between Israel and Iran; Labor cuts Coalition staffing numbers
A new survey finds 85% of respondents believe the relationship between Indigenous peoples and Australians is important. Multicultural Australians believe in the importance of truth-telling at higher levels than Anglo-Australians. The Victorian Labor government has released a long promised gas policy – its response to how the state will reduce use of the fossil fuel. Gas heating and hot water systems will be banned in all new homes and nearly all commercial buildings, with exceptions for agriculture and manufacturing. New constructions will have to use electric systems. Gas cooktops are not covered by the policy. The changes for new buildings start on 1 January 2027. The government said it would help the state avoid gas shortfalls forecast by the Australian Energy Market Operator in 2029. The state Liberal opposition accused the government of engaging in a “pragmatic war on gas’ The Coalition has also reduced its overall staffing numbers even after it secured a whopping 94-houseseat lower than Labor. The Australian Industry Group welcomed what it called a ‘vindictive and nasty’ reduction.
5m ago 02.20 BST Sarah Collard Survey finds most believe relationship between Indigenous peoples and Australia important A new survey finds 85% of respondents believe the relationship between Indigenous peoples and Australians is important, with strong support for reconciliation and truth-telling. The Australian Reconciliation Barometer is conducted by Reconciliation Australia every two years to measure the attitudes and perceptions First Nations people and non-Indigenous Australians hold about each other and about key issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Reconciliation Australia CEO, Karen Mundine, said it was heartening to see the results after an often bruising campaign during the 2023 referendum debate. Mundine said: The 2024 ARB results show that most Australians share an enduring optimism in the possibility of a more united Australia and believe that the Federal Government should do more to advance reconciliation. It gives us hope to report that Australians now largely accept the truths of our history, place importance on our relationships with each other, and are prepared to work together. View image in fullscreen Multicultural Australians believe in the importance of truth-telling at higher levels than Anglo-Australians, the survey found. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP The Barometer survey also found that multicultural Australians were more likely than non-culturally and linguistically diverse people to support truth-telling and reconciliation. It found that 81% of multicultural Australians support truth-telling compared to 67% and are more likely to believe the historical injustices must be addressed compared to other Australians with 36 % compared to 24% in favour. Multicultural Australians believe in the importance of truth-telling at higher levels than Anglo-Australians (81% compared to 67%) and are more than twice as likely to have participated in a local truth-telling activity than Anglo-Australians. Share
16m ago 02.10 BST Adam Morton Victoria releases long-promised, but watered down, gas policy The Victorian Labor government has released a long promised gas policy – its response to how the state will reduce use of the fossil fuel as supplies dwindle and it aims to reach net zero emissions by 2045. Gas heating and hot water systems will be banned in all new homes and nearly all commercial buildings, with exceptions for agriculture and manufacturing. New constructions will have to use electric systems. Rental properties including public housing will have to move to electric appliances when existing gas heaters and hot water systems reach the end of their lives. Until then, they are allowed to repair and maintain their existing gas systems. Owner-occupiers will have to make a similar shift but – in a change from what was previously proposed – only for hot water systems. An earlier proposal that owner-occupiers could not install new gas heaters has been dropped. View image in fullscreen Gas cooktops are not covered by the policy. Photograph: Andrew Matthews/PA Gas cooktops are not covered by the policy. The changes for new buildings start on 1 January 2027. The changes for existing homes start on 1 March 2027. The government said it would help the state avoid gas shortfalls forecast by the Australian Energy Market Operator from 2029. The premier, Jacinta Allan, said the policy would help cut energy bills by hundreds of dollars a year as electricity was cheaper than gas and ensure industry would “get the gas it needs”. Energy and environment groups generally welcomed the policy as a positive shift that will cut bills and emissions, while arguing it could have gone further. The Australian Industry Group welcomed what it called a “pragmatic” policy. The state Liberal opposition accused the government of engaging in a “war on gas”. Share Updated at 02.23 BST
30m ago 01.56 BST Coalition calls staffing reduction ‘vindictive and nasty’ Dan Jervis-Bardy Guardian Australian understands Labor has also reduced its overall staffing numbers even after it secured a whopping 94 lower-house seats. Labor sources confirmed there would be a reduction in opposition and government staffing numbers but could not immediately provide specifics when contacted by Guardian Australia. The shadow special minister for state, James McGrath, said Albanese’s decision was “vindictive and nasty” and an attack on “accountability”. McGrath said: Given Labor’s historically significant majority, this arrogant decision to diminish opposition resourcing comes at his government’s most powerful electoral moment, which is precisely the time our country needs a strong opposition. The Australian people deserve an opposition that is resourced appropriately to be able to hold the government to account, especially during such a precarious and challenging time for our country. View image in fullscreen Liberal senator James McGrath said the ‘Australian people deserve an opposition that is resourced appropriately’. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP Share Updated at 02.09 BST
38m ago 01.48 BST Dan Jervis-Bardy Albanese reduces Coalition’s staffing numbers Anthony Albanese has reduced the Coalition’s staffing numbers in a further blow to the opposition after its thumping election defeat. More than seven weeks on from the May election, and with federal parliament to resume on 22 July, the opposition leader, Sussan Ley, received confirmation on Monday night of the Coalition’s staffing allocation for the new term. While the prime minister has discretion over staffing resources, the opposition is typically allocated 21% of the government’s headcount, according to Coalition sources. View image in fullscreen While the prime minister has discretion over staffing resources, the opposition is typically allocated 21% of the government’s headcount, according to Coalition sources. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP The sources claimed Albanese has reduced their allocation to 17% of Labor’s share, resulting in the loss of roughly 20 roles, including 16 senior adviser positions. The sources said Labor was claiming the cuts were proportional to the Coalition’s representation in parliament, which collapsed from 58 to 43 lower seats after the 3 May election. The Coalition argues it still has the same sized shadow ministry (30 positions), which has the same workload and reliance on staff as before. Share Updated at 01.59 BST
48m ago 01.38 BST Drug for rarer types of cystic fibrosis to be listed on PBS, dropping cost from $250,000 a year to $31.60 a script People living with rarer types of cystic fibrosis will pay a fraction of the price to access life-changing treatment under an expansion of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, AAP reports The changes will take effect from July and mean the drug Trikafta will be affordable for patients diagnosed with rarer mutations of the disease, thanks to government subsidies. View image in fullscreen Almost 200 Australians every year are expected to benefit from the change to the PBS listing. Photograph: AAP Without subsidies, the treatment would cost an eye-watering $250,000 a year. People will now pay a maximum of $31.60 per script, or $7.70 if they hold a concession card. Almost 200 Australians every year are expected to benefit from the change to the PBS listing. The health minister, Mark Butler, said: This expansion to Trikafta’s PBS listing is great news for hundreds of Australians who live with rare mutations of CF, including children, and their families. As a result, these people will be able to lead longer and better-quality lives. Share Updated at 01.41 BST
1h ago 01.19 BST New observatory releases its first photos of the universe The first photos from a new telescope on the top of a mountain in Chile, the Vera C Rubin Observatory, were released today. The project, jointly funded by the US National Science Foundation and the US Department of Energy, is meant to usher in a new golden age of astronomy. View image in fullscreen This image provided by the NSF-DOE Vera C Rubin Observatory shows 678 separate images taken by the observatory in just over seven hours. Combining many images in this way clearly reveals otherwise faint or invisible details, such as the clouds of gas and dust that comprise the Trifid nebula, top right, and the Lagoon nebula, which are several thousand light years away from Earth. Photograph: AP View image in fullscreen This image provided by the NSF-DOE Vera C Rubin Observatory shows another small section of the observatory’s total view of the Virgo cluster. Photograph: AP It’s named after Vera Rubin, the astronomer who “provided the first convincing evidence for the existence of dark matter”. The telescope is the first of its kind and includes the largest digital camera ever built, which will take detailed images of the southern hemisphere sky for 10 years to create “the largest astronomical movie of all time”. The observatory writes: With Rubin data we will gain a better understanding of our universe, delve into the mysteries of dark energy and dark matter, and reveal answers to questions we have yet to imagine. Share Updated at 01.25 BST
1h ago 01.01 BST Josh Butler YouTube should not be exempt from Australia’s under-16s social media ban, eSafety commissioner says YouTube should be included in the ban on under-16s accessing social media, the nation’s online safety chief has said as she urges the Albanese government to rethink its decision to carve out the video sharing platform from new rules which apply to apps such as TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram. View image in fullscreen YouTube should be included in the ban on under-16s accessing social media, the nation’s online safety chief said. Photograph: Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto/REX/Shutterstock The eSafety commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, also recommended the government update its under-16s social media ban to specifically address features such as stories, streaks and AI chatbots which can disproportionately pose risk to young people. The under-16s ban will come into effect in December 2025, despite questions over how designated online platforms would verify users’ ages, and the government’s own age assurance trial reporting last week that current technology is not “guaranteed to be effective” and face-scanning tools have given incorrect results. Read more here: YouTube should not be exempt from Australia’s under-16s social media ban, eSafety commissioner says Read more Share Updated at 01.05 BST
2h ago 00.45 BST Andrew Hastie calls for more transparency on US-Australia military relations Andrew Hastie, the shadow minister for home affairs, told the ABC there needs to be more “transparency” around the US military’s increased presence in Australia and what role the country could play in any US operations launched from its bases here. Hastie, who supported the US bombing of nuclear sites in Iran, said as a miliary alliance grows between the US and Australia, “we need to know what freedom of action we have” and “we also need to know what limits there are as well”. He told the ABC: When America conducts combat operations, we want to know what our level of involvement will be. I think if we’re going to have this close friendship going forward, it’s really important to understand exactly what that means. View image in fullscreen Andrew Hastie said the “close friendship” between the US and Australia needed more transparency. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP Share Updated at 01.00 BST
2h ago 00.26 BST Daisy Dumas ‘There are pissed off people everywhere’: dispatch from a traveller in Doha, Qatar A New Zealand national who lives in Sydney says her flight from Doha was one minute from boarding when Qatar Airways announced the airspace had been closed. “No one mentioned the missiles. I don’t think people realised how close the rockets were,” the Qatar passenger, who asked for her name to be withheld, told Guardian Australia. She had travelled from Edinburgh to Doha and was waiting for her connecting flight to Sydney to be rescheduled, saying: The airspace has reopened but it’s chaotic as about five hours of flights need to be rescheduled. She said other travellers appeared visibly exhausted. There are pissed off people everywhere and there are no updates on what’s happening. People are now really upset as they feel uninformed and not supported. There are no hotels, blankets or updates available, staff are overrun at help desks. She said the airport’s 24/7 shops and cafes were operating as usual. Share Updated at 00.28 BST
2h ago 00.11 BST More details on today’s flight disruptions for some international travellers The Albanese government and airlines are warning passengers in Australia of flight delays and disruptions after Iran’s strike on a US base in Qatar overnight resulted in several countries closing their airspace. In a post to X on Tuesday morning, the foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, said there had been “disruptions to flights with temporary airspace closures in the region”. “Closure of airspace around transit hubs may impact flights globally, causing delays and cancellations,” she said. Airlines began resuming their flights this morning, with Qatar reopening its airspace. Read more below: Australian passenger disruption as airlines delay or cancel flights after Iran’s attack on US base in Qatar Read more Share Updated at 00.12 BST
3h ago 23.53 BST PM welcomes Trump announcement of Iran-Israel ceasefire Anthony Albanese has welcomed Donald Trump’s announcement earlier of a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, saying Australia had “consistently called for dialogue, diplomacy and de-escalation”. The prime minister said in a statement: The safety of Australians in the region is our priority. We continue to closely monitor the situation in the Middle East and are deeply concerned about keeping Australians safe. Trump claimed the ceasefire would take place in multiple steps: later today Iran will start the ceasefire, upon which Israel would then start its own ceasefire after Iran complies with the initial period. At the end of the 24th hour, Trump said, the conflict between the two countries would end. The US president said earlier: On the assumption that everything works as it should, which it will, I would like to congratulate both Countries, Israel and Iran, on having the Stamina, Courage, and Intelligence to end, what should be called, “THE 12 DAY WAR.” Share Updated at 00.31 BST
3h ago 23.50 BST Andrew Messenger It’s budget day in Queensland The Queensland treasurer, David Janetzki, will deliver the Liberal National party’s first budget in a decade. It’s tipped to be a major contrast with Labor’s budget last year, which was packed full of cost-of-living handouts. View image in fullscreen Queensland treasurer David Janetzki. Photograph: Jason O’Brien/AAP But Janetzki and the premier, David Crisafulli, have also been keen to distance themselves from their conservative predecessor Campbell Newman. Queensland budget 2025: Crisafulli vows no austerity despite state facing $218bn debt Read more Janetzki will table the document in parliament at 2pm. Share Updated at 23.52 BST
3h ago 23.37 BST Australian share market set to open higher as fears ease over major escalation Patrick Commins The Australian share market is set to open higher this morning after fears Iran would cause a major disruption to oil supplies in the Middle East eased. Wall Street rallied overnight after an Iranian missile attack on a US airbase in Qatar, which disrupted air traffic but which reportedly left no casualties or major damage. Investors were relieved that Iran has, for now, limited itself to more symbolic strikes rather than targeting key oil infrastructure, leaving the path open for a de-escalation of tensions. View image in fullscreen Futures trading is pointing to a 0.7% lift in the ASX 200 share market index when trade opens this morning, while the dollar is stronger against the greenback, at US64.7 cents. Photograph: Steven Markham/AAP Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, is down more than 7% to $US71.48 a barrel. Oil pushed above $US80 early Monday morning amid fears Iran would block the strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route. Futures trading is pointing to a 0.7% lift in the ASX 200 share market index when trade opens this morning, while the dollar is stronger against the greenback, at US64.7 cents. Share Updated at 23.44 BST
3h ago 23.26 BST Josh Butler Marles won’t say if he expects to meet Trump at Nato summit The deputy PM, Richard Marles, wouldn’t say whether he expects to meet Donald Trump this week at the Nato summit in the Netherlands, and declined to say whether he believed the US strikes on Iran were legal or what, if any, involvement Australia may have had in them. Marles was in London overnight on his way to the Nato conference. There had been some reporting that he and other Indo-Pacific leaders may get a chance to meet Trump, but that is not clear at this moment. Asked in a press conference about a potential meeting, Marles responded: I’m not about to speculate on what meetings I have at Nato. I’m really looking forward to the meetings at Nato. We’ll work up our program of meetings which go alongside the main Nato meetings, and we’ll take it from there. Anthony Albanese and Penny Wong only briefly addressed the legality of the US strikes yesterday, saying they backed the action in hopes of stopping Iran obtaining nuclear weapons. When asked if Australia provided any support to the strikes, particularly through the Pine Gap communications facility or other material support, Albanese would only repeatedly say they were “unilateral” US strikes. View image in fullscreen ‘The idea of Iran acquiring a nuclear weapon is obviously unacceptable,’ Marles said. ‘And we have been committed to the Non-Proliferation Treaty for a long period of time.’ Photograph: Hilary Wardaugh/AAP Marles gave similar answers in London: We have made very clear our concerns about where Iran was going in terms of its nuclear and ballistic missile program. The idea of Iran acquiring a nuclear weapon is obviously unacceptable. And we have been committed to the Non-Proliferation Treaty for a long period of time. Marles said Australia would not comment about intelligence, and said the strikes were “unilateral” US actions. Asked whether Australia should be more transparent about US military movements on Australian soil, Marles argued there was “a high degree of transparency in relation to the United States’ presence in Australia”, adding: We have long had full knowledge and concurrence arrangements in relation to America’s force posture in Australia, not just in relation to Pine Gap, but in relation to all of its force posture in Australia. Share Updated at 23.36 BST
3h ago 23.15 BST Trump says Israel and Iran have agreed to a ‘Complete and Total CEASEFIRE’ The US president, Donald Trump, just posted on social media that both Israel and Iran have agreed to a “Complete and Total CEASEFIRE” that should begin in about six hours. He wrote: On the assumption that everything works as it should, which it will, I would like to congratulate both Countries, Israel and Iran, on having the Stamina, Courage, and Intelligence to end, what should be called, “THE 12 DAY WAR.” This is a War that could have gone on for years, and destroyed the entire Middle East, but it didn’t, and never will! God bless Israel, God bless Iran, God bless the Middle East, God bless the United States of America, and GOD BLESS THE WORLD! Follow developments in our Middle East live blog. Share Updated at 23.16 BST
3h ago 23.00 BST Mark Butler says travellers need to communicate with airlines in ‘very volatile situation’ The federal health minister, Mark Butler, was just on RN Breakfast, saying flights were being disrupted “as we speak” across the Middle East. He said: I encourage all Australians who are thinking of travelling through that region now to monitor the Smart Traveller website and obviously talk to your airlines now as well because this is a very volatile situation at the moment. Butler added Iran had an opportunity to “return to the table and see this very dangerous situation start to de-escalate”, adding: But that really is an obligation on them right now. View image in fullscreen Passengers walk at Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar. Photograph: Hassan Ammar/AP Share Updated at 23.04 BST
4h ago 22.52 BST Australia ‘shouldn’t be surprised’ by Iran retaliation, Wilkie says Independent MP Andrew Wilkie said Iran “had to do something” after the US struck three nuclear sites in the country, saying Australians shouldn’t be “particularly surprised” that Iran retaliated overnight. But Wilkie said the onus on de-escalation now lies largely with the US and Israel. He just told RN Breakfast: After the US strikes, Iran had to do something. It had to respond, and it has now responded. So I don’t know that we should be particularly surprised about what’s unfolded overnight. It is a very powerful reminder, though, of the importance of now de-escalating. You know, if we continue a tit-for-tat, you know, where does this end up? Probably somewhere very, very bad. I’m going to put the onus on starting the de-escalation more on Israel and the United States than I’m putting it on Iran. And the reason for that is the Iranian regime, they’re cornered. They’re facing the possibility of collapse. They’re likely to act irrationally in the future. Wilkie said he hopes the US has the “good sense” not to retaliate once more. View image in fullscreen Andrew Wilkie called on the US and Israel to push for a de-escalation after Iran’s attacks. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP Share Updated at 23.31 BST
4h ago 22.44 BST Qantas and Virgin divert flights after Qatar strikes Virgin Australia and Qantas have both diverted flights after the Iranian strikes in Qatar. A Qantas flight from Perth to London is currently en route to Singapore instead, according to flight tracking data, and two Virgin Australia flights operated by Qatar Airways from Sydney and Brisbane to Doha have been diverted to India and Oman. View image in fullscreen Photograph: Daniel Munoz/AAP As reported earlier, Qatar has reopened its airspace. Emirates, a major carrier for Australians, said it had rerouted some flights earlier today but not diverted any. Emirates said: “After a thorough and careful risk assessment, Emirates will continue to operate flights as scheduled, using flight paths well distanced from conflict areas”. Due to the recent regional situation, a number of Emirates flights were rerouted enroute to Dubai on 23 June, but there were no diversions.
After a thorough and careful risk assessment, Emirates will continue to operate flights as scheduled, using flight paths well distanced… pic.twitter.com/YDbHVD9uJv — Emirates Support (@EmiratesSupport) June 23, 2025 Share Updated at 22.51 BST
Live updates: Trump announces Israel-Iran ceasefire; attack on Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar
Ceasefire is set to start in approximately six hours, the president said. Vice President JD Vance praised Trump for getting the deal “across the finish line” The ceasefire will be phased in during the next 24 hours, according to the president’s post.Neither Iran nor Israel has made any comments about a pending ceasefire. The White House has reached out to the White House for additional information on the ceasefire, which is expected to last 12 hours or more.
President Donald Trump announced what he called “a Complete and Total” ceasefire between Israel and Iran in a post on social media Monday evening, which he hopes will become permanent. The ceasefire is set to start in approximately six hours, the president said.
“It has been fully agreed by and between Israel and Iran that there will be a Complete and Total CEASEFIRE (in approximately 6 hours from now, when Israel and Iran have wound down and completed their in progress, final missions!), for 12 hours, at which point the War will be considered, ENDED,” the president wrote on social media.
Neither Iran nor Israel has made any comments about a pending ceasefire. The ceasefire will be phased in during the next 24 hours, according to the president’s post.
“Officially, Iran will start the CEASEFIRE and, upon the 12th Hour, Israel will start the CEASEFIRE and, upon the 24th Hour, an Official END to THE 12 DAY WAR will be saluted by the World. During each CEASEFIRE, the other side will remain PEACEFUL and RESPECTFUL,” the president wrote.
In an interview on Fox News that began moments after the president’s announcement, Vice President JD Vance praised Trump for getting the deal “across the finish line.”
“We were actually working on that just as I left the White House to come over here. So that’s good news, that the president was able to get that across the finish line,” Vance said.
Vance also said that he read a draft of Trump’s post “two minutes before we went on the air” and that it was “a little bit different from what the president had showed me a couple of hours ago. But again, I knew that he was working the phones as I was on the way over here.”
“Iran is incapable of building a nuclear weapon with the equipment they have, because we destroyed it,” Vance added.
CNN has reached out to the White House for additional information on the ceasefire.
This post has been updated with more details from Trump’s social media post and JD Vance’s comments.