Foreign
Iranian Australians celebrate death of supreme leader and dream with ‘quiet anticipation’ of regime change
After Israel and US launch strikes against Iran, people in Australia fear for their loved ones, noting ‘missiles don’t understand who the enemy is’
The memories of all those murdered by the Iranian regime were at the forefront of Sahar Gholizadeh’s mind when she heard that the country’s supreme leader had been killed.
“I started shaking, and I started crying, remembering all of those beautiful lives that we lost, and all of those people that would be so happy to see this day,” she says on Sunday from Melbourne.
The Iranian Australian, who fled Iran’s theocratic regime almost 15 years ago, describes the news as a bittersweet but “big moment” for the country and its diaspora. “We’ve been waiting for this,” the 50-year-old says.
Those sentiments are echoed across Australia’s Iranian community following the death of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, after Israel and the US launched strikes on the country.
Iranian Australian Sahar Gholizadeh described the news of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s death as a bittersweet but ‘big moment’. Photograph: Sahar Gholizadeh
In Sydney and Melbourne, planned anti-regime rallies on Sunday became celebrations of the leader’s death, with thousands attending.
In Canberra, a few hundred people celebrated outside the now-closed Iranian embassy to cheer the death of the Ayatollah and praise Israeli and US leaders.
Iran state media confirms killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei after US-Israeli missile strikes
Champagne was sprayed over the dancing crowd, as people prayed for a liberated Iran and the safety of their families there.
In Melbourne, members of Australia’s Iranian diaspora gathered in Federation Square and on the steps of parliament to celebrate after years of violence, most recently culminating in the regime’s brutal crackdown on protests, with up to 30,000 people estimated to have been killed.
Suren Edgar, the vice president of the Australia Iranian Community Alliance (AICA), says hearing of Khamenei’s death was the “best morning of my life”. “He destroyed our country, our culture, killed our people and pushed the ideology of terror to other countries,” he says.
Edgar, who migrated to Australia in 2014, says the community is hopeful after Israel and the US launched another attack on Iran after last year’s 12-day war.
“It’s not easy to watch your country under that attack,” he says.
“Missiles don’t understand who the enemy is and who are … ordinary people. So that’s why we are worried about our people. But on the other hand, we see them, they are happy, extremely happy.”
The US-based organisation Human Rights Activists News Agency on Sunday reported at least 133 civilians had been killed, with 200 injured, in the first hours of the Israeli-US attack.
Edgar says internet disruptions mean people in Australia are awaiting news from loved ones in Iran.
“I’m still waiting to hear from some … the psychological impact of silence can be as distressing as the crisis itself,” he says. “Being unable to connect with loved ones online creates a unique kind of stress and helplessness.”
Edgar says the diaspora community is celebrating Khamenei’s death, but remains unsure if there will be desired regime change.
“As long as the Islamic Republic is in power, it’s not done,” he says on Sunday.
Courtesy: Breaking News Australia
Foreign
Iran lists conditions to end war– US, Israel must pay reparations
The Iranian President, Masoud Pezeshkian, has listed three conditions his country demands to end the ongoing war with the US and Israel.
Mr Pezeshkian, in a post on X, on Wednesday, mentioned one of the conditions as being the “payment of reparations” by the US for the damage it has caused to Iran. He said he disclosed the conditions in meetings with the “leaders of Russia and Pakistan,” two countries that condemned the US and Israel for starting the war.
“Talking to leaders of Russia and Pakistan, I reaffirmed Iran’s commitment to peace in the region. The only way to end this war—ignited by the Zionist regime & US—is recognizing Iran’s legitimate rights, payment of reparations, and firm int’l guarantees against future aggression.”
Over 1,300 Iranians have reportedly been killed in the war which started when the US and Israel commenced an unprovoked attack on Iran 13 days ago.
Retaliatory strikes by Iran have killed eight American soldiers and at least 12 people in Israel.
Some of the victims of the American and Israeli strikes include Iran’s former Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khameini, and over 160 schoolgirls who were killed when a missile hit their school.
A US military investigation of the strike on the school confirmed it was carried out by the US, the New York Times reported on Wednesday.
Although the US says it has destroyed all of Iran’s air force and navy and virtually all its missile capabilities, Iran continues to fire missiles and drones at Israel and US interests in the Middle East.
Iran has also ensured the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, where about 20 per cent of the world’s oil passes, leading to petrol price increases across the world, including in Nigeria.
Foreign
Israel accuses Iran of sponsoring terrorism in Nigeria
The Israel has renewed its allegations that Iran sponsors terrorism globally, including in Nigeria, amid an ongoing diplomatic row between the two countries over security claims and counter-claims.
In a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja, Israel’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Freeman, said Iran’s record on terrorism was well documented and could not be dismissed by public denials.
The statement followed recent comments by Iran’s envoy to Nigeria, Gholamreza Mahdavi Raja, who appeared on Arise Television on March 8, where he rejected accusations that Tehran sponsors extremist activities in Nigeria and across West Africa.
Responding to the denial, Freeman insisted that Iran has for decades been widely identified as a major state sponsor of militant groups across different regions of the world.
“For decades, Iran has been widely identified as the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism, providing funding, weapons, training and strategic direction to terrorist organisations such as Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis,” the Israeli envoy said.
He further argued that activities linked to Tehran have not been limited to the Middle East but have extended to other parts of the world.
“Iranian-backed operatives and networks have been linked to attacks and plots across the globe; from Argentina and Bulgaria to Australia and the United Kingdom,” Freeman said.
The ambassador also referenced the October 7 attacks carried out by Hamas against Israeli civilians, alleging that Iranian leaders publicly praised the assault and encouraged further violence against Israel.
Freeman noted that Nigeria has also recorded incidents allegedly connected to Iranian-linked operations.
According to him, Nigerian authorities intercepted a shipment of Iranian weapons in 2010 at the Apapa Port in Lagos, which he claimed was concealed in cargo containers and allegedly destined for armed groups operating in West Africa.
He also cited a 2013 security operation in which Nigerian authorities reportedly uncovered a weapons cache and arrested individuals linked to the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah in Abuja and Kano.
Commenting further, Freeman said Iran’s denials could not erase what he described as documented evidence of its activities.
“The Iranian regime can make as many statements as they like and appear on as many television channels as they want. But facts speak louder than words. And the fact is that Iran is the world’s largest sponsor of terrorism and has backed the Islamic Movement of Nigeria for years,” he said.
He also alleged that Iran has supported the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), noting that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei had previously met with the group’s leader Ibrahim Zakzaky and praised him for his activism.
The Israeli embassy said the statement was issued to counter what it described as misinformation regarding Iran’s global activities.
“Terrorism threatens the security and stability of nations across the world, including here in Nigeria,” the statement added.
Foreign
UN Chief Warns: World economy at grave risk,; ‘the situation could spiral beyond anyone’s control’
War enters Sixth Day, Friday, March 6th, 2026.
Military strikes and counter-strikes, continuing across the Middle East as the US and Israel wage war on Iran.
With the world economy at grave risk, ‘the situation could spiral beyond anyone’s control’ warned UN chief António Guterres. “It is time to stop the fighting and get to serious diplomatic negotiations,” he urged.
He added that the unlawful attacks by all sides are causing tremendous suffering for civilians across the whole Middle East region.
Source: UN
