Albanese government and opposition welcome Middle East ceasefire, as Israel, Iran yet to confirm agreement
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has welcomed an announcement by US President Donald Trump of a ceasefire between Israel and Iran.
There has not yet been public confirmation of the agreement from either Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Sky News understands the government learned of the ceasefire through Donald Trump's social media post.
'Australia welcomes President Trump's announcement of a ceasefire between Israel and Iran,' Mr Albanese said in a statement on Tuesday.
'We have consistently called for dialogue, diplomacy and de-escalation. The safety of Australians in the region is our priority.
'We continue to closely monitor the situation in the Middle East and are deeply concerned about keeping Australians safe.'
Mr Albanese's remarks came just hours after the President Trump claimed that both sides had agreed to a 'complete and total ceasefire'.
According to a social media post form the US President, there will be a 12-hour phased wind-down of hostilities to begin at 2pm AEST.
A senior Iranian official told Reuters that Tehran had agreed to the US-proposed ceasefire, however the terms of such a ceasefire remain unconfirmed.
Missile sirens were still sounding in Tel Aviv in the hours following President Trump's post about an agreement.
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley and acting shadow foreign minister Andrew Hastie also welcomed the proposed ceasefire.
'The Coalition welcomes the statement from the President… confirming there will be a ceasefire between Israel and Iran,' they said in a joint statement.
'Any step that de-escalates tensions and prevents a wider regional conflict is a moment to be recognised.
'We also condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the Iranian regime's direct missile attack on a United States base in Qatar.'
The Coalition reaffirmed its support for the United States and called on Mr Albanese to attend potential upcoming meetings between Indo-Pacific partners and NATO leaders.
Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles has been sent to the NATO conference at The Hague, in the Netherlands.
It comes after Mr Albanese had his scheduled meeting with President Trump at the G7 cancelled.
According to a government source, Mr Marles has an 'outside chance' of meeting President Trump at the NATO conference.
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