The first day of the U.S-Israel and Iran ceasefire has seen widespread strikes, and conflicting claims from both sides over who and what is covered by the agreement.
Iran has struck neighbouring countries including Kuwait and the UAE, while Israel has continued its strikes on Lebanon, which it says was not included in the deal, killing more than 250 people.
In response, Iran has shut the Strait of Hormuz.
Ceasefire
U.S. President Donald Trump said Iran had a deadline of Tuesday night (U.S. time) to make a peace deal.
In a post to Truth Social on Tuesday morning, he said: “A whole civilisation will die tonight, never to be brought back again.”
Hours later, the U.S, Iran, and Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif announced a two-week ceasefire. Iran also agreed to open the Strait of Hormuz for the two weeks.
Sharif’s statement said the ceasefire applied “everywhere including Lebanon”.
Lebanon
After the joint U.S-Israeli strikes on Iran in February, the Iran-backed, Lebanon-based group Hezbollah launched rockets into Israel.
In retaliation, Israel has repeatedly struck southern Lebanon, going on to announceon 31 March it intends to occupy the region.
Yesterday, the Lebanese Civil Defense Ministry said Israeli strikes killed 254 people and injured 1,165 people.
Israel and the U.S. have said the ceasefire agreement did not apply to Lebanon.
"The two-weeks ceasefire does not include Lebanon," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.
“I think the Iranians thought that the ceasefire included Lebanon and it just didn’t. We never made that promise.”
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— U.S. Vice President JD Vance speaking to the press in Hungary.
Strait of Hormuz
In response to Israel continuing to strike Lebanon, Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz.
State media reports the regimeplans to withdraw from the agreement if Israel continues.
Since the ceasefire was announced, the Hormuz Strait Monitor shows three ships have transited in the last 24 hours –around 2.2% of the average.
Australia’s response
Foreign Minister Penny Wong said: "We have called early, and we continue to call - with others - for the ceasefire to apply to Lebanon, to both Hezbollah, and to Israel."
"If fighting continues in Lebanon, the ceasefire is at risk."
Australia also led a statement with countries including the UK and Brazil calling for protection of aid workers in Lebanon, saying: “Attacks that threaten the safety and security of humanitarian personnel must stop.”
Shadow Defence Minister James Patterson told ABC Radio National he is “reluctant to endorse [Iran’s] claims” that Lebanon was included because the Iranian regime had “sponsored terrorist attacks on Australian soil”.
The Government closed its embassy in Iran last year after confirming the regime had orchestrated attacks on Australia’s Jewish community.
What’s next?
On Wednesday (local time), White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Vance, Middle East Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and former Special Envoy Jared Kushner will attend peace talks in Islamabad on 11 April.
In a post to X, Sharif said Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian had confirmed Iran will be participating in the discussions.
“Pakistan remains committed to working closely with all its friends and partners to advance peace and stability in the region and beyond,” Sharif said.
