Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Wednesday welcomed the two-week ceasefire agreement between the United States, Israel and Iran, calling it a critical step toward de-escalation in the volatile Middle East, even as he sharply criticised the language used by Donald Trump during the crisis.
In an official statement, Albanese said Australia supports the temporary truce aimed at paving the way for a broader resolution to the conflict, which has triggered widespread instability and fears of a prolonged regional war.
“The longer the war goes on, the more significant the impact on the global economy will be, and the greater the human cost,” he said, pointing to the escalating consequences of Iran’s effective shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz.
The disruption of the vital oil transit route, coupled with attacks on commercial vessels and energy infrastructure, has sent shockwaves through global markets, raising concerns over fuel supply and price volatility.
Albanese underscored that Canberra has been actively coordinating with international partners to restore navigation through the Strait, ensuring the flow of critical supplies, particularly to vulnerable regions.
He also acknowledged diplomatic efforts led by countries including Pakistan, Egypt, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia, crediting them for advancing negotiations and easing tensions.
However, the Australian Prime Minister struck a cautionary note on Trump’s remarks, describing them as inappropriate and alarming. The US President had earlier warned that “a whole civilisation will die tonight” if Iran failed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, before abruptly announcing the ceasefire just hours ahead of his stated deadline.
“I don’t think it’s appropriate to use language such as that… it will cause some concern,” Albanese said in an interview to a TV channel, signalling unease within allied nations over Washington’s messaging during the crisis.
The ceasefire comes amid mounting international pressure to prevent further escalation, with Australia reiterating its call for all parties to adhere to international humanitarian law and prioritise the protection of civilian lives.
Despite backing the US aim that Iran should not possess nuclear weapons, the PM questioned the continuation of the war after the objectives of degrading Iran’s navy and air force had been accomplished.
The ceasefire was announced by Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif saying that the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America, along with their allies, have agreed to an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire, effective across all theatres, including Lebanon.
“With the greatest humility, I am pleased to announce that Iran and the United States… have agreed to an immediate ceasefire everywhere… effective immediately,” Sharif said, describing the move as a “sagacious gesture” aimed at restoring peace and stability in the conflict-hit region.
Welcoming the development, the Pakistani leader extended gratitude to the leadership of both nations and formally invited their delegations to Islamabad for high-level talks on April 10. The proposed dialogue—dubbed the ‘Islamabad Talks’—is expected to focus on forging a comprehensive and lasting agreement to resolve longstanding disputes.
Sharif underscored that both sides had demonstrated “remarkable wisdom and understanding” and remained constructively engaged in advancing the cause of peace. “We earnestly hope the Islamabad Talks will succeed in achieving sustainable peace,” he added, expressing optimism about further positive developments in the coming days.
US President Donald Trump also signalled Washington’s support for de-escalation efforts, reinforcing hopes that the ceasefire could mark the beginning of a broader diplomatic reset in West Asia.
US special presidential envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, as well as Vice President JD Vance, are expected to take part in the talks with Iran in Islamabad.
Vance is currently visiting Hungary and may, after that, head for the talks in Pakistan.
Describing the two-week ceasefire with Iran as a ”big day for World Peace”, Trump said the US will be helping with the traffic buildup in the Strait of Hormuz.
He said Iran wanted it to happen because ”they’ve had enough. Likewise, so has everyone else.”
He said the US will be helping with the traffic buildup in the Strait of Hormuz and there will be ”lots of positive action.”
He said this could be the ”Golden Age of the Middle East, just like in the US.”
