US-Iran war updates: Iran’s new Supreme Leader vows to avenge ‘martyrs’, refuelling US jet crashes in Iraq

A senior minister has failed to say whether Australia will “run out of fuel” as the war in Iran pushes oil prices back above $US100 per barrel.

Industry, motorists and the opposition have hounded the Albanese government all week amid reports of fuel shortages in rural and regional areas, with the Royal Automobile Association of South Australia putting the average price for diesel in that state at a record high of $2.46 per litre.

The federal government has responded by blaming the shortages on panic buying and temporarily lowering fuel quality standards to get more petrol and diesel flowing to supply-stricken service stations.

But the question of whether the country could exhaust its fuel stocks has remained unanswered despite the opposition peppering both Anthony Albanese and Energy Minister Chris Bowen during parliamentary question time.

It was put to Health Minister Mark Butler when he fronted Seven’s Sunrise on Friday, with host Natalie Barr asking point blank: “Will Australians run out of fuel?”

Mr Butler was unable to say but did boast about Labor’s efforts to lift fuel reserves.

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The US Central Command (CENTCOM) has confirmed a KC-135 refuelling aircraft has crashed in western Iraq during Operation Epic Fury.

In a statement posted on X, CENTCOM said two aircraft were involved in the incident, with one going down while the other landed safely.

“The incident occurred in friendly airspace during Operation Epic Fury, and rescue efforts are ongoing,” the command said.

“This was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire.”

CENTCOM said more details would be released as rescue operations continued.

“More information will be made available as the situation develops. We ask for continued patience to gather additional details and provide clarity for the families of service members.”

The White House has sparked outrage online after posting a video that appeared to liken US drone strikes on Iranian targets to a game of Wii Sports.

The clip, shared on the official White House X account, stitches together footage of Nintendo Wii gameplay with real-world images of strikes hitting Iranian trucks, buildings and aircraft amid the escalating conflict.

The video quickly drew a wave of criticism across social media, with many users condemning what they described as a flippant tone in a post involving real military strikes.

Several commenters said the video appeared to treat the attacks like a video game.

“You do realise that this is probably footage of people dying?” one user asked.

The post triggered anger online, with critics accusing the White House of trivialising the violence of war by packaging the strikes in a format resembling a video game highlight reel.

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Israeli air strikes have hit a building in the heart of Beirut and Israel has ordered residents out of another swathe of southern Lebanon, intensifying its offensive against the Iran-aligned Hezbollah group.

The air strike at 5.30pm hit a building in the Bachoura neighbourhood, about 1km from the Lebanese government’s Grand Serail headquarters in downtown Beirut.

Before the strike, the Israeli military issued a warning telling residents they were near a Hezbollah facility against which it intended to strike.

Israel launched an air and ground offensive last week against Hezbollah, which launched attacks at Israel on March 2 that it said aimed to avenge the killing of Iran’s supreme leader at the start of the US-Israeli war on Iran.

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Australia has ordered all non-essential officials to leave Israel and the United Arab Emirates two weeks after the US and Israel’s war on Iran engulfed the Middle East.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong said staff were directed to leave “due to the deteriorating security situation”.

“Essential Australian officials will remain in-country to support Australians who need it,” she said in a statement posted on social media on Thursday night.

“We continue to advise Australians not to travel to Israel and the UAE.

“We urge you to leave the Middle East if you can and if it’s safe to do so.”

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The Australian government has temporarily lowered fuel standards to boost supply as concerns grow about global oil shortages linked to the escalating war in the Middle East.

Under the move, about 100 million litres of additional fuel will be released into the domestic market over the next 60 days. The fuel will be produced at an Ampol refinery in Queensland, where production normally serves export markets with lower fuel quality standards.

The extra supply will be made by allowing a higher level of sulphur in petrol than typically permitted under Australia’s fuel regulations.

New fuel standards introduced late last year limited sulphur in petrol to 10 parts per million, part of a broader effort to improve petrol quality nationwide. Under the temporary change, the sulphur limit will rise to 50 parts per million.

Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen said the move was designed to ease pressure on supply chains disrupted by rising global demand.

“While Australian fuel consumption has not changed, this will help relieve pressure on distribution chains disrupted by elevated demand,” Mr Bowen said.

“The government has been unequivocal – this additional supply must help the people who need it, including farmers, fishers and regional communities.”

The Queensland refinery producing the fuel is typically used to manufacture petrol for overseas markets where lower fuel standards apply.

Donald Trump has pivoted from a White House event marking Women’s History Month to boast about the progress of the US war against Iran.

Speaking alongside First Lady Melania Trump, the US President said the conflict was unfolding quickly and defended the military campaign.

“The situation with Iran is moving along very rapidly. It’s doing very well. Our military is unsurpassed. There’s never been anything like it, nobody’s ever seen anything like it,” he said.

“And we’re doing what has to be done, should have been done during a 47 year period. Could have been done by a lot of different people. They chose not to do it, but they really are a nation of terror and hate. And they’re paying a big price right now.”

A former Iranian diplomat who is reportedly seeking political asylum in Australia actually defected from the Islamic Republic’s embassy in Canberra in 2023.

The Iran International news outlet reports that Mohammad Pournajaf, who previously served as the chargé d’affaires, is now seeking asylum.

The Nightly has confirmed the former diplomat actually sought asylum three years ago, although his current status is not known.

On Friday, it was also reported that Alireza Sohbati, a diplomat at the Iranian embassy in Copenhagen, was seeking asylum in Denmark.

United States President Donald Trump says it would not be appropriate for Iran’s squad to be at this year’s men’s World Cup “for their own life and safety”.

The US military and Israel initiated air strikes on Iran on February 28, sparking retaliatory action from Iran on Israel and Middle East nations housing US bases, such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Iran’s sports minister Ahmad Donyamali appeared to rule out the possibility of the country playing at the finals on Wednesday.

Iran is due to play all three group games in the US and could even meet the Americans in the last-32 if both finished second in their group.

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Iran will avenge the blood of its martyrs, keep the Strait of Hormuz closed and attack US bases, new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei says in a statement read out on state television, his first remarks since succeeding his slain father.

In the defiant address, Mr Khamenei said the United States must close all its bases in the region.

The strait, which runs past Iran’s coast and supplies a fifth of the world’s oil, should remain shut to put pressure on the enemy, he said.

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