Australia urges Middle East ceasefire in peace talks

Foreign Minister Penny Wong has held talks with her Lebanese and Pakistani counterparts connected a ceasefire successful the Middle East, arsenic uncertainty surrounds negotiations betwixt the US and Iran.

Senator Wong spoke overnight with Pakistan’s overseas curate Ishaq Dar connected the country’s relation successful brokering bid talks betwixt Iran and the US, arsenic well arsenic advancing efforts for a ceasefire.

“I thanked Pakistan’s overseas curate for his country’s relation successful facilitating negotiations betwixt the US and Iran, and its efforts to physique a determination statement connected what a semipermanent bid woody could look like,” Senator Wong said pursuing the talks.

“We each want the negotiations to beryllium successful, for an extremity to the struggle and for the Strait of Hormuz to reopen so ships tin walk safely and captious supplies tin get where they’re needed.”

A one-on-one was besides held with Lebanon’s overseas curate Youssef Rajji astir the request for a lasting ceasefire betwixt Israel and Lebanon.

“I told Lebanon’s overseas curate that Australia welcomed the US-brokered ceasefire agreed by Israel and Lebanon and that we proceed to telephone connected each parties to adhere it,” Senator Wong said.

“We want a negotiated extremity to the conflict, Lebanon’s sovereignty respected and Hezbollah disarmed.”

The talks travel arsenic US President Donald Trump said an hold of a ceasefire with Iran look unlikely.

The ceasefire is owed to tally retired connected Wednesday night, US time.

A caller circular of bid talks successful Pakistan is still connected the cards aft the archetypal effort failed to ink a deal, with US Vice President JD Vance starring an American delegation.

But Iran is still yet to corroborate whether the talks will still spell ahead.

Senator Wong said the effects of the war would stay successful Australia adjacent if an extremity to the struggle was agreed upon shortly.

“Even with the ceasefire, we cognize planetary supply pressures will proceed for some clip to come,” she said.

“The Albanese authorities is working with determination partners to unafraid petrol, diesel and fertiliser supplies so that we tin shield Australia from the worst impacts of the conflict.”

Source: AAP