Trump’s Iran threat to ‘cause some concern’, PM says

US President Donald Trump threatening Iran’s “whole civilization will die tonight” will cause “concern” in the international community, Anthony Albanese has said while reacting to news of a ceasefire in the Middle East conflict.

Mr Trump on Wednesday (AEST) announced a Pakistani-brokered “double-sided ceasefire” an hour before a deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

The Iranian government has also publicly committed to a temporary pause in “defensive operations”.

The breakthrough came after days of Mr Trump threatening to bomb Iran “back to the stone ages”.

But his latest threat sparked widespread condemnation, with his human rights groups warning it could constitute a threat to commit genocide.

“A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again,” Mr Trump posted before the ceasefire.

“I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will.”

He also said that “we have Complete and Total Regime Change, where different, smarter, and less radicalized minds prevail, maybe something revolutionarily wonderful can happen, WHO KNOWS?”

“We will find out tonight, one of the most important moments in the long and complex history of the World,” he said.

“47 years of extortion, corruption, and death, will finally end. God Bless the Great People of Iran!”

The Albanese government has welcomed the ceasefire, with the Prime Minister warning further escalation “would have led to greater global economic damage”.

Though Mr Albanese said Mr Trump’s threat was unbecoming of a US president.

“I don’t think it’s appropriate to use language such as that from the President of the United States, and I think it will cause some concern,” he told Sky News.

“We’ve said very clearly that the conduct of any conflict must be within international law and that provides for making sure that civilians … are given every protection possible.”

Mr Albanese would not be drawn on whether following through on the threat would be a war crime, saying it was “a long step between a tweet and that suggestion”.

‘Double-sided ceasefire’

Praising Pakistani mediation efforts, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said Tehran was considering a 15-point peace plan put forward by the Trump administration.

“If the attacks against Iran are halted, our Powerful Armed Forces will cease their defensive operations,” Mr Araghchi said in a statement.

“For a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via co-ordination with Iran’s Armed Forces and with due consideration of technical limitations.”

It came after Mr Trump announced on social media that he would “hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran”.

“I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks,” he wrote.

“This will be a double sided CEASEFIRE! The reason for doing so is that we have already met and exceeded all Military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning Longterm PEACE with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East.”

He added that the US had “received a 10 point proposal from Iran, and believe it is a workable basis on which to negotiate”.

“Almost all of the various points of past contention have been agreed to between the United States and Iran, but a two week period will allow the Agreement to be finalized and consummated,” he said.

“On behalf of the United States of America, as President, and also representing the Countries of the Middle East, it is an Honor to have this Longterm problem close to resolution.”

While both Washington and Tehran have committed to the ceasefire, explosions were reported across the Gulf region as well as in Israel.