Australian dollar climbs; Dubai airport attacked by Iran; ships in Strait of Hormuz targeted; Iran women’s soccer team player returns home;

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The latest developments

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Thank you for reading our ongoing coverage of the US-Israeli war on Iran.

Here’s a look at the most recent happenings:

One member of the Iranian women’s soccer team who accepted a humanitarian visa to stay in Australia changed her mind and asked to return home, said Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke. In all, six Iranians accepted the government’s offer to remain in Australia on humanitarian grounds. There are now concerns for those who are returning home.

Israel’s attacks on Lebanon continue to cause a humanitarian crisis. Almost 700,000 people have been displaced since the latest Israeli incursion across Lebanon’s southern border.

Two Iranian drones struck near Dubai International Airport, wounding four people, officials said. Commercial flights are continuing.

Three ships in the Strait of Hormuz were attacked. The critical oil choke point has remained largely closed, causing the price of oil to swing wildly.

Speculation remains over the health of Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei. References in state media suggest that Khamenei was wounded in the initial US-Israeli strikes.

The Australian dollar emerged as an unlikely haven, buoyed by elevated oil and gas prices and growing bets that the central bank may raise interest rates as early as next week. The Aussie climbed to its highest level since June 2022 – US71.68¢ – and reached more than a 35-year high against the yen.

Stay with us as we follow these developments and others.

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11.41pm

Is there a petrol crisis in Australia? Not yet

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The conflict in Iran is throttling global oil supplies and leading to long queues and panic-buying at some Australian petrol stations.

All told, Australia has 36 days’ supply of petrol, 34 days of diesel and 32 days of jet fuel stashed at facilities across the country, the government has confirmed. “We are in a very uncertain time internationally,” Energy Minister Chris Bowen says. “But we enter this crisis very well prepared.”

Nick Toscano and Bronte Gossling have this excellent report on the hulking steel mega-tanks that represent one of the last lines of defence against the risk of crippling energy shortfalls.

11.16pm

And more on oil ...

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Germany and Austria say they are releasing parts of their oil reserves following an International Energy Agency (IEA) request for its members to release 400 million barrels to help temper energy price spikes due to the Iran war.

Japan also said it will release some of its reserves.

The largest-ever previous collective release of emergency stocks by IEA member countries was 182.7 million barrels, in the wake of the energy shock prompted by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

IEA members currently hold over 1.2 billion barrels of public emergency oil stocks, with a further 600 million barrels of industry stocks held under government obligation.

AP

11.08pm

Opinion: Trump is facing a crisis he created himself

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Markets are already in turmoil as Iranian attacks on infrastructure and shipping have effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz – a superhighway for the worldwide oil trade.

“Trump launched this war with 21 days’ consumption cover in the US strategic petroleum reserve – China is thought to have at least 120 days’ cover – and with inadequate warships to protect shipping,” writes Ambrose Evans-Pritchard in the UK Telegraph.

“Trump says the US is immune to the energy shock because it has achieved oil and gas supremacy and is a net fossil fuels exporter. This is nonsense. Oil is a fungible commodity and is priced globally.”

Read more from Evans-Pritchard here.

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10.59pm

Video: Correspondent David Crowe in Beirut

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An Israeli missile struck an apartment building in a residential area in central Beirut earlier today, injuring four people, Lebanon’s health ministry said.

Our Europe correspondent David Crowe and chief photojournalist Kate Geraghty were at the scene shortly after.

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10.31pm

Three missing after Thai ship hit in Strait of Hormuz

By Lynette Eyb

Thai officials say a search is under way for three missing crew members after a cargo ship was struck and set ablaze in the Strait of Hormuz.

Pictures shared by the Thai navy show the ship billowing thick smoke from the rear section.

Thailand’s Marine Department said 20 crew members from the ship Mayuree Naree were rescued by the Omani navy. The three missing crew members were reportedly in the engine room when the explosion occurred.

The ship, sailing under a Thai flag, was hit shortly after leaving the UAE, the Royal Thai Navy said in a statement.

The Mayuree Naree is a 30,000 deadweight-ton bulk carrier owned by Precious Shipping.

With wires

10.19pm

Iranian tears in Kuala Lumpur

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The biggest local story today has been the departure of the Iranian women footballers who did not take up the offer of asylum.

In case you missed it earlier, here is Amber Schultz’s report from Kuala Lumpur after she flew on the plane out of Australia with the delegation.

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9.44pm

Carnage unleashed on civilians

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Our Europe correspondent David Crowe and chief photojournalist Kate Geraghty are in Beirut, witnessing first-hand the destruction being caused in Lebanon as Israel wages war on Hezbollah, the militant group that acts as an Iranian proxy.

“With every missile, more carnage is being unleashed on civilians,” writes David.

“The targets are meant to be the Hezbollah fighters who have fired rockets into northern Israel to show their support for Iran. But Israel’s target list has expanded to include financial agencies that are linked to Hezbollah and lend money to families, helping the militant group maintain community support.

“Those killed include a Maronite priest, Father Pierre al-Rai, who died on Monday when struck by Israeli tank fire in his community in southern Lebanon.”

You can read more from David and Kate here.

9.44pm

Will Iran be welcome in the US for the World Cup?

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The Asian Cup has been in focus here in Australia due to the participation of the Iranian women’s team and the threats to their welfare after they refused to sing the Iranian anthem before their first game.

More news now from the world game. Gianni Infantino, president of FIFA, the sport’s governing body, says he has met with US President Donald Trump ahead of the 2026 men’s World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the US, Mexico and Canada from June 11 to July 19.

“President Trump reiterated that the Iranian team is, of course, welcome to compete in the tournament in the United States,” Infantino said in a post on his official social media account. “We all need an event like the FIFA World Cup to bring people together now more than ever, and I sincerely thank the president of the United States for his support, as it shows once again that football unites the world.”

Iran secured qualification by topping Group A in the third round of Asian qualifying last year. The Iranians are with Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand in Group G. Their matches are scheduled to take place in Los Angeles and Seattle. If both the US and Iran finish second in their groups, they could meet in a July 3 elimination match in Dallas.

9.42pm

Israel conducting fresh round of attacks

By Lynette Eyb

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said today would be “yet again [America’s] most intense day of strikes inside Iran”.

A short time ago, the Israeli military said it had begun another wave of extensive attacks on both Iran and Beirut, where it claims to be focusing on Hezbollah targets.

Here is our latest map showing all the targets so far.

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