live Live Blog: Celebrations In Iran Over Reports Of Khamenei’s Death

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been responding to developments in the Middle East, saying his country "stands with the brave people of Iran in their struggle against oppression."

In a post on X, he said Australia supported the United States "acting to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and to prevent Iran continuing to threaten international peace and security."

He described the Iranian regime as a long-standing “destabilizing force” and that it “can never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon.”

Albanese said international calls for Tehran to respect “the human rights and fundamental freedoms of Iran’s citizens” had “gone unheeded,” pointing to a “brutal crackdown” that left “thousands of Iranian civilians dead,” and arguing that “a regime that relies on the repression and murder of its own people to retain power is without legitimacy.”

He also pointed out that Iran had directed “at least two attacks on Australian soil in 2024,” prompting diplomatic expulsions and sanctions. Australia has upgraded travel warnings for Iran, Israel, and Lebanon and activated its Crisis Centre to assist citizens.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas says the initiation of US and Israeli air strikes against Iran, and Tehran's retaliation at targets around the Middle East, are "perilous."

In a post on X, she said the bloc is "coordinating closely with Arab partners to explore diplomatic paths."

"Protection of civilians and international humanitarian law is a priority," she said. "Our consular network is fully engaged in facilitating departures for EU citizens. Non-essential EU personnel are being withdrawn from the region."

Meanwhile, the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has said the latest developments are "greatly concerning" amid fears of further escalation.

Its being reported by a number of media outlets that the first wave of strikes in today's joint US-Israeli operation targeted officials of the Islamic republic.

There have been no reliable reports from inside Iran regarding the status of these officials or whether they are alive or dead.

The first report of an attack said a missile struck near Pasteur Square in Tehran, where the residence of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is located. A source told Reuters that Khamenei was not in Tehran and had been transferred to a secure location.

At the same time, a video has circulated on social media claiming to show the aftermath of a missile strike on the residence of former Iranian hardline president Mahmud Ahmadinejad.

The Netblocks digital rights watchdog and connectivity monitor says Iran is "now in the midst of a near-total internet blackout."

Last month, access to the Internet in Iran was cut for an extended period of time during weeks of deadly protests. Rights groups said the move was intended to conceal human rights violations by Iran's security forces during a clampdown on anti-government demonstrations.

In a video message posted on X, Reza Pahlavi -- the son of Iran's last shah -- says “decisive moments lie ahead of us” and claims the assistance promised by the US president “has now arrived,” describing it as “a humanitarian intervention” targeting “the Islamic Republic -- its apparatus of repression and killing machine -- not the great country and nation of Iran.”

He added that “the final victory will still be achieved by us” and declared that “the time to return to the streets is near.”

Addressing security forces, he said: “You have sworn to protect Iran and the Iranian nation, not to protect the Islamic republic,” urging them to “join the people” or “sink with [Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali] Khamenei and his broken regime.”

He also asked US President Donald Trump to exercise “the utmost caution to protect the lives of civilians” and told Iranians to “remain in your homes” for now, adding, “We are very close to final victory.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country and the United States have launched strikes on Iran “to remove the existential threat" posed by its "terror regime” and to “create the conditions” for Iranians to change their destiny.

“My brothers and sisters, citizens of Israel, a short while ago Israel and the United States launched an operation to remove the existential threat posed by the terror regime in Iran,” he said in an X post in Hebrew, thanking “our great friend, President Donald Trump, for his historic leadership.”

“This murderous terror regime must not be allowed to arm itself with nuclear weapons that would enable it to threaten all of humanity,” he said, according the The Times of Israel, urging Israelis: “Together we will stand, together we will fight, and together we will ensure the future of Israel.”

Reports from Iran indicate that the websites of a number of Iranian news media outlets have been hacked following the start of the Israeli and American attacks.

The IRNA state news agency confirmed the hacking of its website on its Telegram channel.

According to an image posted on social media from the hacked IRNA page, this headline appears alongside a photo of a bombed location: "Terrible hours for the security forces of the ayatollahs' regime: the IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps) and the Basij (paramilitary force) have suffered a crippling blow."

Reports add that the websites of several Iranian domestic news outlets, including ISNA, Rokna, and Tabnak, have also been hacked.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) say they have "identified missiles launched from Iran toward Israel."

"Defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat," the IDF said in a post on X. "In the past few minutes, the Home Front Command has sent a precautionary directive directly to mobile phones in the relevant areas."

In a subsequent X post, the IDF said Israel's air defenses are "currently identifying and intercepting threats."

Iranian news agencies have reported on their Telegram channels that air defenses have been activated in Tehran.

According to these reports, air defenses have been activated to counter "hostile targets" in the center and some other parts of the Iranian capital.

US President Donald Trump has told Iranians they will soon be free to take over their government in an address following strikes on the country.

“To the members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard, the armed forces and all of the police, I say tonight that you must lay down your weapons and have complete immunity, or in the alternative, face certain death,” Trump said.

He confirmed US involvement in the strikes citing “imminent threats” and the need to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

“To the great proud people of Iran, I say tonight that the hour of your freedom is at hand.”

"When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be probably your only chance for generations," he added.