Protesters have gathered at Sydney's Town Hall to denounce the United States' historic military attack on Iran, which many hope has ended its tyrannical regime.
The rally, at which professional protester Josh Lees of the Palestine Action Group spoke, called on the Australian government to condemn the attack on Iran jointly executed by the US and Israel.
As the small group gathered outside Town Hall, not far away in Hyde Park more than 20,000 gathered to celebrate to downfall of Iran's murderous ruler Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in his compound by an airstrike.
They joined other Iranian-Australians in joyous scenes across the country, with thousands also gathering on Sunday afternoon in Melbourne and Brisbane.
Minoo Ghamari, who fled Iran 19 years ago told the ABC this was Iran's 'Berlin Wall moment', referring to the collapse of the Iron Curtin in Europe in 1989.
American President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu both cited an existential 'threat' to their nations posed by the Iranian regime after news of the bombings broke on Saturday morning, local time.
It followed weeks of speculation about an American military operation against Iran as the US began a build-up of naval assets in the Middle East.
The size of the US presence in the region had not seen for decades and was paired with warnings from Trump that Iran must 'make a deal' to end its nuclear program.
A protest against the military action on Iran we held outside Sydney Town Hall on Sunday
The group, organised by the Socialist Alliance, called for an end to the bombings in Iran
A second demonstration in Hyde park (above) celebrating the military strikes was attended by an estimated 20,000 people
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese fronted a snap press conference on Sunday in which he shared support for 'the brave people' of Iran and addressed the death of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei.
'Ayatollah (Ali) Khamenei was responsible for the regime's nuclear program, support for armed proxies and its brutal violence and intimidation against its own people,' he said.
'This claimed many lives in Iran but also internationally. He was responsible for orchestrating attacks on Australian soil. His passing will not be mourned.'
However, Australian left-wing party Socialist Alliance strongly condemned the attacks and claimed the bombings were 'illegal and break international human rights rules'.
'We support the Iranian people's struggles for democratic reforms against the regime. But the US and Israel's bombing will not assist that struggle in any way,' Socialist Alliance said in a statement.
Dozens of its supporters gathered outside Town Hall to call for an immediate end to the conflict.
Early investigations from the Red Crescent, the counterpart of the Red Cross, indicate at least 200 people have died from American and Israeli airstrikes in Iran and another 700 estimated as injured.
Some deaths have been attributed to explosions at two Iranian schools - a girls' elementary school in Minab which killed 108 people and a school east of the capital, Tehran, in which at least two students were killed.
Professional protester Josh Lees (above) spoke at the Socialist Alliance rally
The protesters labelled a joint attack by the US and Israel 'illegal'
Dozens of anti-war protesters gathered in Sydney CBD on Sunday
Protesters called for an end to the conflict
Not far away in Hyde Park there were joyous scenes at a much larger gathering
While the tragic bombing of the schools has been condemned across the board, the fall of Iran's vicious regime represents a renewed chance for peace across the Middle East.
The thousands of protesters who gathered in Hyde Park, less than a kilometre from Town Hall dance, cheered and waved Iranian flags.
Similar celebrations were seen around Australia.
One Iranian-Australian family in Brisbane on Sunday marked the upheaval with a traditional celebration: the sharing of cakes and sweets.
Amin, who declined to give his last name, put out a morning tea complete with signs reading 'free Iran' and 'Ayatollah is no more' and messaged a few friends to come down, before being pleasantly surprised when neighbours also joined.
'It's the start of a new day for Iran,' he said.
While he hailed the death of the Ayatollah, he acknowledged the what was ahead in the next months and years would be filled with uncertainty about who would lead the country.
But he was hopeful he would be able to return to Iran to visit family for the first time in years after being unable to travel there due to safety concerns.
They were celebrating the downfall of a tyrannical regime
Thousands of people gathered for a separate celebration in nearby Hyde Park
Demonstrators celebrated the death of Israeli Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
The protest celebrating the potential fall of the Iranian regime was better attended than the anti-war protest
Perth-based Hamid Yeganeh has been speaking with family abroad since the strikes and he said many in Iran had been taking to the streets to dance, chant and celebrate.
It's something that has been forbidden for nearly 50 years, he said.
'The majority of our family and friends live in Iran and they are happy, so we have had that communication and everyone is just hoping the end is here,' Mr Yeganeh said.
Internet and phone lines have been down in Iran, making contact with people living in Tehran and elsewhere difficult.
Mr Yeganeh said he wanted those in Iran to enjoy the freedom possible in Australia, adding he hoped the strikes would end the Islamic regime's rule.
In Canberra, a few hundred people celebrated outside the now-closed Iranian embassy to cheer the death of the Ayatollah and praise US and Israeli leaders.
Champagne was sprayed over the dancing crowd, as people prayed for a liberated Iran and the safety of their families there.
Most spoke of being unable to travel back to their homeland to see relatives due to their involvement in protests.
Hyde park was filled with cheering crowds on Sunday evening
Similar celebrations were seen in city's across Australia
Hyde Park was filled with Iranian flags as people celebrated the downfall of the Ayatollah
Fab, who only wanted his first name used, fled to Australia 30 years ago after fighting the authoritarian regime for more than a decade following the Iranian revolution.
He would have been killed if he had gone back but now he has a chance to again see his 'tribe' in Iran, he said.
Many Iranian-Australians saw the events as a turning point in Iran's history.
Elmira Bahraminejad, from the Free Iran community group, said there was hope for a better future after decades of oppression.
'There's been 47 years of suppression and dictatorship ... (people) want to thank the US and Israel for helping people inside of Iran,' she said.
Australia has upgraded its travel warnings for Israel, Lebanon, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates to do not travel.
A do-not-travel warning for Iran had already been in place, with Mr Albanese warning consular assistance was limited after Australia withdrew its ambassador from Tehran in 2025, when it expelled the Iranian ambassador.
He urged Australians in the region seeking assistance to register with the Foreign Affairs Department, saying officials would contact those registered.
Flights across the region have been cancelled or turned around, creating travel chaos for many visiting or being routed through major Middle East aviation hubs.
Airspace around the Middle East remains closed, straining any repatriation efforts from Australia.
Cyprus, the closest European nation, is preparing for mass evacuations, including nationals from other nations, as it has when the region was thrown into conflict previously.
Australians have previously been evacuated to Cyprus from Lebanon during Israeli strikes, before being repatriated to Australia from the island nation.
