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TRANSCRIPT
US President Trump says he has agreed to speak to Iran’s new leadership, after joint strikes by the US and Israel killed Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei [[HUH-mah-nay-ee]].
In an interview with the Atlantic magazine, he says he has decided to accept the request for talks, without specifying when that would happen.
Iran has named its interim leadership team includes Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian - along with the head of the judiciary, Gholam Hossein Mohseni Eje’i, and one of Iran's Guardian Council jurists, Ayatollah Alireza Arafi.
But Iran's parliamentary speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf has told Iranian state television that Iran is prepared for all scenarios, and is determined to follow in Ayatollah Khamenei's path.
Farsi then translated into English): "We will deal you such terrifying blows that would make you beg. You'll see that your fantasies will last only a couple of days."
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The Israeli military says it's targeted the heart of Tehran with a blast in an area that is home to Iran's police headquarters and Iranian state television.
Israeli military spokesman Brigadier General Effie Defrin says its strikes had killed 40 top Iranian military officials, including the chief of staff for the Iranian armed forces, Abdolrahim Mousavi.
Hebrew then vo: "We severely struck the regime, the command-and-control targets and its air defence arrays and the missile array. We have good achievements and many more targets ahead of us. In the opening strike of the operation, the IDF eliminated 40 commanders and seniors from the Iranian regime in one minute.”
Israel did not provide evidence, and neither Iran nor the United States immediately commented on the claim.
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Three ships have been attacked in the Strait of Hormuz in the second day of Iran's counter-strikes across the region responding to the ongoing US-Israeli air raids.
The strait is a key transit point for the global oil trade, through which a quarter of the world's oil - and a fifth of its liquefied natural gas - pass.
Two ships are reported to have been struck directly by what officials describe as 'unknown projectiles'.
Another projectile exploded close to a third ship.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards closed the shipping lane on Saturday [[28 Feb]], warning that it was dangerous due to the US and Israeli attacks.
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The Australian Iranian Community Organisation says it welcomes the death of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The 86-year-old ruled Iran for the past three decades before being killed in the US and Israeli air strikes.
The President of the Australian Iranian Community Organisation, Siamak Ghahreman, says while the majority of the community welcomes his death, some would have preferred him to face trial.
"This was the second best thing that could happen. We are hoping that by getting rid of Khamenei, we are close to getting rid of the regime as a whole."
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The Insurance Council of Australia is warning travel insurance is unlikely to cover people impacted by the attacks on Iran.
This is because travel insurance policies generally exclude cover for losses associated with wars, armed conflicts or civil unrest.
They come under an exclusion known as a force majeure clause which derives from the French word meaning a superior, exceptional or overwhelminhg force.
A Do Not Travel warning from the Australian government is also a trigger for policy exclusions.
The federal government has warned Australians against travelling to much of the Middle East including Qatar, Iraq, Yemen, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Israel and Lebanon.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the official advice is for Australians is to leave Iran if it is safe to do so, but says the closure of airspace in the Middle East is expected to continue to impede travel.
"We've already seen flights returned to Australia that were unable to land in either Dubai or Abu Dhabi. And of course, Emirates in particular with Etihad had have a large number of flights to the region, including of course, as does Qatar and other airlines. Travelers should prioritise their safety. They should monitor events and follow local advice."
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A man has drowned in South Australia amid the record inland downpour.
South Australian Police say the body of the 47-year-old motorbike rider was recovered after he tried to cross a flooded creek at Eurelia, in the state's Flinders Ranges.
The downpour has come as a shock to many in South Australia after forecasters tipped the state's first dry summer since 2019, the eighth since records began.
Severe weather warnings and flash flooding alerts remain in place across the region and much of Australia's inland southeast, with the Bureau of Meteorology's Dean Narramore predicting heavy rain, thunderstorms and flooding will continue until at least Monday night.
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Award-winning star Delta Goodrem will represent Australia in this year's Eurovision Song Contest.
Delta will take to the stage for the 70th Song Content in Austria this May with her powerful new single Eclipse.
Goodrem says she has always loved the creativity, individuality, and joy Eurovision brings, connecting and uniting people across the globe through music.
Eurovision is broadcast to more than 160 million viewers worldwide, and will be shown on SBS here in Australia.
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In football, Sam Kerr has the Matildas off to a winning start in their Asian Cup campaign - but coach Joe Montemurro says the best is yet to come.
Australia has defeated the Philippines, one goal to nil, in Perth in the tournament's opening match.
Kerr scored the game's only goal in the 14th minute of play - her first goal for Australia in 851 days.
Australia only scored once despite having a whopping 85 per cent of possession, and 15 shots, compared to the Philippines' one shot.
Montemurro says his side will play a better, more efficient, brand of football as the tournament progresses.
"You know, I think it was probably more about us identifiying when we can play forward and be a little bit braver. We'll grow into that. As I said... our first game together in a while. And we were probably a little more conservative... just wanted to make sure we got through this with a good base, a good controlled base. And then, once we get a bit braver, and become a bit more courageous as the tournament goes on, you'll see as lot more opportunities open up."
Australia's next game is against Iran on the Gold Coast on Thursday night [[5 Mar]].
