US-Iran war as it happened: Trump distances US from Israeli attack on Iranian gas field; Iran retaliates; Albanese announces fuel supply taskforce

Iran will play Nigeria on March 27 and Costa Rica four days later in Antalya as part of a four-nation invitational tournament that had to be moved from Jordan because of the conflict in the Middle East.

“The national team is holding a training camp in Turkey, and we will also play two friendly matches there,” Taj was quoted as saying by the Fars News Agency on Wednesday.

“We will boycott America, but we will not boycott the World Cup.”

Taj was speaking on Wednesday as he welcomed the players from the women’s national team back to Iran at the border crossing from Turkey after their protracted journey from Australia.

All of the delegation, which was in Australia for the Women’s Asian Cup, were offered asylum by Australia because of fears for their safety in Iran. While seven accepted, only two ended up staying.

Reuters

“Macron has not uttered one word of condemnation of the Israel-US war on Iran,” Araghchi wrote on X. “He did not condemn Israel when it blew up fuel storage in Tehran, exposing millions to toxins. His current ‘concern’ didn’t follow Israel’s attack on our gas facilities.”

Earlier today, Iran’s new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei made his second statement since taking power.

In it, he vowed revenge for the recent killings of Iran’s security chief Ali Larijani and General Gholamreza Soleimani, the head of the paramilitary Basij force.

“The anti-Islamists should know that shedding this blood at the foot of the mighty tree of the Islamic system will only make it stronger,” The Telegraph in the UK reported.

AP

The national average price for diesel - measured every Sunday - was 245¢ a litre, and 219.5¢ for unleaded petrol as of the latest update. The latter is a 20 per cent increase since the conflict began on February 28.

That’s the most expensive weekly petrol price on record.

Earlier today, the government appointed former energy regulator Anthea Harris as a new fuel tsar to coordinate the response to price spikes and supply chain disruptions as a result of the war.

Meanwhile, Dr Vinh Thai, who teaches logistics and supply chain management at RMIT, said it won’t only be fuel that becomes harder to buy if oil and petroleum product exports continue to be disrupted.

“Petrochemicals are foundational to the medical industry, from pharmaceuticals such as aspirin, vitamins and antihistamines to medical equipment like syringes and blood bags, as well as disposable healthcare items including diapers and sanitary products,” Thai said in a statement.

“Australia imports around 90 per cent of its medicines, with pharmaceutical products ranking among the country’s top 10 imports, valued at approximately US$11.86 billion ($16.72 billion) in 2025.”

“If the conflict persists, the impact could intensify, particularly if exporting countries impose restrictions or bans, making it critical to closely monitor supply chain risks to ensure continuity of medical supplies.”

How readers are feeling the fuel shortage

David: Will be getting the bus to work instead of driving and no coffee from coffee shop each day. We will stop eating out and cut spending on other discretionary items. Did the same in COVID and worked well in balancing budget and increasing savings.

Bill: Have an electric car, and loving it!

Helen: Petrol is $2.29. Some petrol stations are $2.39. I have restricted the number of times I drive the car and I have opted to drive shorter distances.

Kent announced his resignation on X, saying he could not support “sending the next generation off to fight and die in a war that serves no benefit to the American people”.

Speaking on Carlson’s show, Kent said the president relied on a small circle of advisers in making his decision to strike Iran.

Kent claimed Israel forced Trump’s hand despite what he said was no evidence that Iran posed an imminent threat to the US.

“A good deal of key decision makers were not allowed to come and express their opinion to the president,” Kent told the prominent conservative commentator. “There wasn’t a robust debate.”

Kent’s comments offer an inside glimpse into Trump’s decision to strike Iran on February 28 and underscore the risk that the war could divide his political base.

They also suggest there were concerns about the strikes within the administration.

As head of the National Counterterrorism Centre, Kent oversaw an agency tasked with analysing and detecting terrorist threats.

His work was overseen by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who on Wednesday said that it was up to Trump – and Trump alone – to decide whether Iran posed a threat.

Gabbard, an army veteran and former congresswoman from Hawaii, has previously criticised talk of military strikes in Iran.

She has not said what she thinks of the current strikes, while a spokesperson has declined to respond to questions.

AP, Bloomberg