US-Iran war as it happened: Ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon extended by three weeks; Trump orders navy to ‘shoot and kill’ minelayers in Strait of Hormuz; US forces board oil tanker

Thanks for reading our live coverage of the war in the Middle East. Our blog has now closed, but our rolling coverage will continue on this live blog.

Here’s a look back at what we covered today:

• Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei has rejected US President Donald Trump’s claim of disarray in the leadership describing it as “the enemy’s media operations” to maliciously undermine Iranian unity and security.
• Trump said he had ordered the navy to “shoot and kill” any minelaying boats in the Strait of Hormuz, claiming the waterway would stay “sealed up tight” until Iran made a deal. It appears the ceasefire continues indefinitely.
• An internal Pentagon email explores options for the US to punish NATO allies it believes failed to support American operations against Iran, a US official told Reuters. One option in the email envisions suspending “difficult” countries from important or prestigious positions at NATO, Reuters reported.
• Representatives from Israel and Lebanon held talks at the White House earlier today and agreed to a three-week ceasefire extension, Trump announced this morning. Both Hezbollah and Israel have accused each other of violating the ceasefire.
• Australia has secured an extra 100 million litres of diesel, half of which will be prioritised for regional areas. Two extra cargoes of diesel will enter the nation following a deal struck between Export Finance Australia and fuel companies Ampol and BP.
• A US-sanctioned supertanker laden with Iranian oil appeared to be trying to cross the Strait of Hormuz on Friday, with traffic through the waterway otherwise at a virtual standstill.
• The American journalist who was kidnapped and held hostage in Iraq earlier this month before being released has thanked those who helped free her. In a post on X, Shelly Kittleson said: “So many people ... put an immense amount of effort into ensuring that the level of attention to my case remained high.”

The Australian sharemarket has ended the week lower as uncertainty over the war in the Middle East continues to cast a shadow over markets.

The S&P/ASX 200 edged down 6.9 points to close at 8786.50 on Friday. Five of 11 industry sectors were in negative territory, capping off a week in which the market has lost ground. Overnight, US stocks pulled back from record highs following mixed profit reports from Tesla and other big companies.

Oil prices, meanwhile, rose on worries about what will happen next in the war with Iran. A ceasefire is still in place between the United States and Iran, but oil tankers in the Persian Gulf aren’t able to get through the narrow waterway off Iran’s coast and deliver crude to customers. The price for a barrel of Brent crude to be delivered in June rose on Thursday night and was trading above $US105 a barrel on Friday afternoon.

Most mining stocks declined, with Fortescue losing 5.7 per cent after it released its quarterly production report.

Read our full market wrap here.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has released his Anzac Day message, reflecting on the sacrifices made by Australian soldiers who embody the “courage, selflessness and mateship” that defines the nation.

“On Anzac Day, we pause to acknowledge the debt all of us owe to Australians who have gone to war in our name. Across our continent, from the biggest cities to the smallest country town, and in every corner of the world made hallow by the sacrifice of our fallen, we gather in respect, reflection, gratitude and pride.

One hundred and eleven years after the first Gallipoli landing, Anzac Day has come to stand for every generation of Australians who have served. At dawn services and marches today, we renew our solemn promise to remember all those young Australians who did not grow old and everyone they left behind.

We remember all who lived to keep fighting and all who finally made it home, but with the battle raging forever in their hearts. We reflect on all they went through and all they were up against, and we give thanks for the difference they made just when the world needed it most.

We give thanks to our veterans for all you have given. We thank all Australians serving now, and we thank your families, who take on both the pride and the burden. Time and time again, Australians at war have embodied the courage, selflessness and mateship that define our national character.

What their legacy proves to us is that even when peace seems elusive, it is always worth fighting for. So we gather. And as we give thanks for the light of every bright dawn that was their promise to us, we keep tending the flame of memory. Lest we forget.”

The American journalist who was kidnapped and held hostage in Iraq earlier this month before being released has thanked those who helped free her.

In a post on X, Shelly Kittleson said: “So many people ... put an immense amount of effort into ensuring that the level of attention to my case remained high.”

Kittleson was working for Al-Monitor when she was abducted by the Iran-backed Iraqi militia Kataib Hezbollah before being released in exchange for members of the group who were detained by Iraqi authorities.

She also wrote about the kidnapping and her detainment in a piece for The Atlantic titled: “If I tried to escape, I would be killed.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has spoken to Vietnamese President To Lam about the war in the Middle East and strengthening trade ties.

“President To Lam and I committed to continue our work boosting trade and strengthening links between our businesses,” Albanese said on X today.

“We also discussed the conflict in the Middle East, and the importance of countries in our region working together to address energy security.

“Vietnam is an important partner, and we’ll keep building on that relationship.”

In the past month, Albanese has reaffirmed trade ties with the leaders of Brunei, Malaysia and Singapore as the government looks to shore up Australia’s energy supply.

A US-sanctioned supertanker laden with Iranian oil appeared to be trying to cross the Strait of Hormuz on Friday, with traffic through the waterway otherwise at a virtual standstill.

The Yuri, carrying 2 million barrels of crude loaded from Kharg Island, reappeared on ship-tracking platforms Kpler and Vortexa off Sirri Island earlier this week, after having stopped signalling its location for days. The tanker then began heading towards Hormuz late on Thursday, and has just sailed past Larak Island.

The progress of the large crude carrier suggests that Tehran is still keen to test Washington’s resolve to maintain its blockade of the strait. American forces intercepted two Iranian oil tankers earlier this week, while the US Central Command said in a social media post that 33 vessels had been redirected since the start of its blockade.

Iran has also been seeking to strengthen its grip on the strait, shooting at commercial ships and seizing at least two vessels. The double blockade has resulted in attempted transits plunging.

A bulk carrier that delivered food to Iran was observed sailing near Yuri heading toward Hormuz on Thursday, but it then made a U-turn in the strait and is now heading back into the Persian Gulf. Several hours before, a container ship that had departed from Bandar Abbas, an Iranian port city in the strait, was seen sailing south into the Gulf of Oman. The vessel had entered the strait four days ago.

Yuri was sanctioned by the US in 2024 for being involved in Iran’s petroleum exports. There were no contact details listed for the ship’s unidentified manager or owner on maritime database Equasis.

Bloomberg