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TRANSCRIPT:
- President Donald Trump says talks with Iran are continuing
- A major Australian fuel supplier is calling for calm
- The Socceroos defeat Cameroon
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards say they have turned back three ships attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, warning vessels linked to the U-S and its allies are now barred from the key waterway.
Iran says access will be tightly controlled, raising uncertainty over global energy supplies, with the shipping lane a vital route for the transport of 20 per cent of the world's oil and natural gas.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says Iran imposing control over the strait is illegal and dangerous.
He says the world must be ready to respond.
"It's important that the world have a plan to confront it. The United States is prepared to be a part of that plan. We don't have to lead that plan, but we can, we're happy to be a part of it."
Earlier, US President Donald Trump extended the deadline to the 6th of April for Iran to make a deal to end the war or face the destruction of its energy plants.
He says talks with Iran are going "very well", but Iran has dismissed a US ceasefire proposal as unfair.
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G7 foreign ministers are calling for an immediate halt to attacks on civilians and critical infrastructure, as divisions persist over the war with Iran.
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly complained that allies have ignored or rejected requests for help confronting Tehran’s retaliation, including the closure of the Strait of Hormuz to most international shipping.
Top diplomats from the Group of Seven countries showed divisions over the Iran war but agreed on the need for a diplomatic path forward.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot says the G7 countries have adopted a declaration.
"It calls for an immediate halt to attacks against civilian populations and infrastructure. There is no justification for deliberately targeting civilians in armed conflicts, nor for carrying out attacks against diplomatic facilities. And it reaffirms the absolute necessity of permanently restoring free and safe navigation in the Strait of Hormuz."
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Residents in a series of isolated coastal towns battered by a destructive cyclone are emerging from their homes to assess the damage.
Tropical Cyclone Narelle was downgraded to a category-two system overnight, after making landfall in Western Australia's northwest.
The storm left a trail of destruction in the Pilbara and North West Cape before crossing the coast near Coral Bay and heading for Carnarvon.
Shire president Eddie Smith says Carnarvon has been blanketed by a thick, pink dust storm for about two hours, and wind gusts topped 100 kilometres per hour.
Jonathan How from the Bureau of Meteorology says heavy rain and strong winds are expected today as Narelle tracks south.
"We could see destructive winds up to 125 kilometres an hour through northern parts of the warning area through Saturday morning as the system pushes down towards the south. As well, we could see heavy rainfall with six-hourly totals of 30 to 50 millimetres. And high isolated falls are possible. And because of this, we do have a flood watch current across much of western and southwestern WA, with the possibility of flash flooding, as well as riverine flooding."
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A company that provides about a quarter of the fuel used in Australia is calling for calm, saying additional shipments are on their way.
Viva Energy which operates one of Australia's two refineries says the company is not reliant on deliveries from the Middle East.
CEO Scott Wyatt says there's enough fuel to last until at least June.
"That isn't to say there won't be some times when things are tight and it is, obviously, quite tight at the moment and that may cause some short term disruptions but that's more about short-term waiting for vessels to arrive in the country, than running out of fuel. So people need to be calm."
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US-led attacks on Iran and their subsequent impact on oil prices have turbocharged Australian demand for electric vehicles.
Data from the National Australia Bank suggests loans for EVs doubled during March after the attacks began on February 28, as Australians seek to dodge soaring petrol and diesel prices.
Finance enquiries from businesses for EVs are up 88 per cent.
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission data shows unleaded petrol prices have jumped between 61 and 92 per cent in Australian capital cities since February 20, while the cost of diesel has more than doubled.
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To sport, and in football, a late goal from Jordan Bos helped the Socceroos defeat Cameroon 1-nil in their FIFA Series game in Sydney.
It is the team's first win in four games after three successive losses to the USA, Venezuela and Colombia.
Socceroos coach Tony Popovic gave Socceroos debuts to two players, striker Deni Juric and 18-year-old central defender Lucas Herrington, who became the youngest Australian starting defender in 45 years.
Popovic says he had been considering holding the teenager back until Tuesday's friendly with Curacao in Melbourne, but had been so impressed by his performances in training that he moved that decision forward.
"This kid just gets on with it. And he just looked really comfortable in the environment. And I thought maybe give him some minutes in the second game. But after the training on Wednesday, I was convinced that he can start."
