Follow live: PM says Trump's 'civilisation' threat 'not appropriate'; White House says ceasefire a 'victory'

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of Iran-backed armed factions, said it would suspend its operations in Iraq and across the region for two weeks.

The group, which claimed responsibility last month for downing a United States military refuelling aircraft over western Iraq, issued a statement following the announcement of the two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran.

— Reuters

United States President Donald Trump has told Agence France-Presse (AFP) he believes China helped get Iran to the negotiating table to agree to a two-week ceasefire deal.

"I hear yes," Trump said in a telephone call with AFP when asked if China was involved in getting its key trading partner Iran to negotiate on a truce.

Trump is due to travel to Beijing in May to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping.

He also told AFP the two-week ceasefire was "100 per cent" a "total and complete victory".

"No question about it," he said.

Iran's uranium would also be "perfectly taken care of" under a two-week ceasefire deal with Iran, Trump added.

"That will be perfectly taken care of or I wouldn't have settled," he told AFP.

— Alexandra Koster, Agence France-Presse

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has called the two-week ceasefire a "victory for the United States", saying the move was in line with United States President Donald Trump's initial time estimations for the war.

"This is a victory for the United States that President Trump and our incredible military made happen," Leavitt said in a post on X.

"From the very beginning of Operation Epic Fury, President Trump estimated this would be a 4-6 week operation. Thanks to the unbelievable capabilities of our warriors, we have achieved and exceeded our core military objectives in 38 days."

"The success of our military created maximum leverage, allowing President Trump and the team to engage in tough negotiations that have now created an opening for a diplomatic solution and long-term peace.

"Additionally, President Trump got the Strait of Hormuz reopened.

"Never underestimate President Trump's ability to successfully advance America's interests and broker peace."

— Alexandra Koster

Anthony Albanese has defended Australia's fuel security position, saying that Australia had its largest fuel reserves in 15 years as the war in the Middle East started, while also taking a dig at the Opposition.

"We have the largest reserves that we've had in Australia for 15 years going into this global event," Albanese told Sky News.

"In addition to that, we've made sure that those fuel reserves are kept here in Australia — not in Texas, which is what the Opposition leader did when he was the energy minister under the former government."

In 2020, under the former Coalition government, then-energy minister Angus Taylor announced a small amount of Australian-owned oil would be stored in the US' Strategic Petroleum Reserve — an emergency stockpile of petroleum held in underground tanks in Louisiana and Texas. The 1.7 million barrels stored in the US were sold in 2022.

Asked whether he wanted to build reserves back up to a 90-day supply, Albanese said his broader goal was "a more resilient economy".

Energy Minister Chris Bowen separately said the number of service stations without fuel was falling, with 221 stations across Australia currently without diesel — about 3 per cent of stations nationally.

— Alexandra Koster

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has distanced himself from United States President Donald Trump's threat to destroy a "whole civilisation" in Iran, saying it was "not appropriate" language for the US president to use.

"I don't think it's appropriate to use language such as that from the president of the United States," Albanese told Sky News on Wednesday morning. "I think it will cause some concern."

"We've said very clearly that the conduct of any conflict must be within international law ... for making sure that civilians who aren't parties to the conflict are given every protection possible."

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has welcome the US-Iran ceasefire. Source: AAP / Mick Tsikas

Asked whether Trump's threatened strikes on Iranian power plants and civilian infrastructure would constitute a war crime, Albanese stopped short of saying so directly.

"It's a long step between a tweet and that suggestion," he said. "What we have called for is a de-escalation, and that is what has occurred, and that's a good thing."

— Alexandra Koster

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has welcomed the ceasefire announcement, saying Australia had been calling for de-escalation "for some time".

"Australia welcomes the agreement by the United States, Israel and Iran to a two-week ceasefire to negotiate a resolution to the conflict in the Middle East," a combined statement from Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong read.

"The Australian government has been calling for de-escalation and an end to the conflict for some time now."

"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."

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Australia welcomes the ceasefire agreement. Source: AAP / Mick Tsikas

"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."

"Australia has been working with international partners in support of diplomatic efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz so critical supplies can flow to those who need it, including the most vulnerable."

The statement thanked mediators Pakistan, Egypt, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia for "advancing de-escalation efforts".

"Australia wants to see the ceasefire upheld and a resolution to the conflict," the statement read. "We continue to call on all parties to uphold international humanitarian law and protect civilian life."

— Alexandra Koster

The Australian Securities Exchange had soared by 2.7 per cent by 10.30am, around half an hour after opening.

Globally, oil prices have dived, bonds have rallied, and stocks are surging.

US crude futures fell around 16.5 per cent to US$94 ($133) a barrel, S&P 500 futures leapt more than 2 per cent and the US dollar fell broadly, having been the haven of choice for investors during the tumult.

The risk-sensitive Australian dollar rose 1.3 per cent to above US$0.70 and the euro gained 0.76 per cent to US$1.1683.

— Australian Associated Press

Despite the ceasefire being effective immediately, several Gulf countries have issued missile warnings.

Qatar's defence ministry said its armed forces have intercepted a missile attack and urged people to remain indoors.

Missile alerts have also sounded in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain.

— Alexandra Koster

Under the two-week ceasefire, the Strait of Hormuz will reopen on the condition that vessels coordinate with the Iranian Armed Forces, Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said in a post on X.

"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," Araghchi wrote.

He added that Iran will stop its military attacks on the condition that it is also not attacked.

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

— Alexandra Koster

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said the ceasefire will extend to Lebanon, effective immediately.

"I am pleased to announce that the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America, along with their allies, have agreed to an immediate ceasefire everywhere including Lebanon and elsewhere, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY," Sharif said on X.

More than 1.2 million Lebanese have fled their homes and been displaced due to fighting in the south of the country, according to Lebanese authorities.

Sharif added that both parties would be holding talks in Pakistan's capital on Friday.

"I warmly welcome the sagacious gesture and extend deepest gratitude to the leadership of both the countries and invite their delegations to Islamabad on Friday, 10th April 2026, to further negotiate for a conclusive agreement to settle all disputes.

"Both parties have displayed remarkable wisdom and understanding and have remained constructively engaged in furthering the cause of peace and stability. We earnestly hope that the 'Islamabad Talks' succeed in achieving sustainable peace and wish to share more good news in coming days!"

— Alexandra Koster

Good morning, Alexandra Koster here.

Thanks for joining our live coverage of the war in the Middle East after the United States and Iran announced they had both agreed to a two-week ceasefire.

It's been a rapidly moving start to the day, so here's a quick summary of developments so far:

• United States President Donald Trump announced this morning that there would be a "double-sided ceasefire" for two weeks. That announcement came about an hour before his pre-imposed deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, threatening that a "whole civilisation will die tonight" otherwise
• Iran has agreed to the ceasefire and will hold talks with the US on Friday, but Iranian state media said talks "do not mean end of war"
• That ceasefire will extend to all parties, including Lebanon and Israel, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said
• Passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be allowed for two weeks "under Iranian management"
• Attacks have continued throughout the Middle East. Israel's military said Iran fired missiles into Israel moments after Trump announced the ceasefire, with Agence France-Presse correspondents reporting blasts in Jerusalem and Jericho in the occupied West Bank. The United Arab Emirates and Qatar have issued missile threats and urged the public to remain indoors

We'll be bringing you more developments as we have them.

— Alexandra Koster