Albanese Slams Trump's Iran Threats as 'Extraordinary' Amidst Ceasefire Deal

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has welcomed a two-week ceasefire deal between the US and Iran, describing the news as 'very positive' and expressing hope it would lead to a permanent end to the conflict that has driven up global fuel prices.

The ceasefire agreement was announced just before Trump's self-imposed deadline for Iran to surrender or face widespread destruction, including the bombing of bridges and power plants. Trump had warned that 'a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again.'

In an interview with Sky News, Albanese criticized Trump's threat to destroy civilian infrastructure, calling it an 'extraordinary statement to make'. He emphasized that the conduct of any conflict must be within international law, which protects civilians.

The Nationals leader, Matt Canavan, had urged Albanese to make clear to the US that Australia wouldn’t support Trump’s threat of widespread bombings. Albanese has avoided criticizing Trump's inflammatory language in the past but took a firmer stance this time.

The two-week ceasefire, facilitated by Pakistan, allows for safe passage through the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a crucial shipping lane that Iran had effectively closed in retaliation for US and Israel strikes.

In a joint statement, Albanese and Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong welcomed the ceasefire and called for the agreement to be upheld and the conflict resolved. They highlighted that Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz has caused unprecedented energy supply shocks and impacted oil and fuel prices.

Albanese's comments mark a rare instance of criticism from a world leader against Trump's aggressive rhetoric. The development underscores the significant global economic implications of the conflict and the efforts to de-escalate tensions.