AS IT HAPPENED: Fuel prices fall despite Geelong refinery fire; Trump claims today is 'historic' for Lebanon; Joe Rogan questions Iran war; UN Secretary General urges countries to respect ceasefire

Thank you for joining us in another day of our coverage of the Middle East conflict. Here are the main events from Today, April 17:

- Lebanon was finally included in the ceasefire, meaning Israeli strikes on the country will stop. World leaders have urged all sides of the conflict to observe it, including Australia.

- Fuel prices are falling in Australia despite yesterday's refinery fire in Geelong. This is because the global price of oil is falling, thanks to the ceasefire mostly holding in the Middle East.

- US President Donald Trump has claimed victory in the war is close at hand for the United States, telling his supporters to watch closely for developments in the next week. He also said the war was going "swimmingly".

- However, he is still being criticised by some of his biggest supporters, with notable podcaster Joe Rogan calling the war "terrifying" and asking "what the f--- is going on?"

Iran welcomes the ceasefire in Lebanon, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson said, according to state media Tasnim.

The spokesperson reiterated that Lebanon is part of the truce negotiated between Iran and the US, Tasnim reported.

The US has insisted that Lebanon was not covered by that agreement, with Vice President JD Vance saying there was a "misunderstanding."

Iran has emphasised from the beginning "the necessity of establishing a simultaneous ceasefire across the entire region, including Lebanon, and has continued to pursue this matter seriously after the Islamabad negotiations," the spokesperson said, according to Tasnim.

Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf earlier said the ceasefire in Lebanon was the result of Hezbollah's "extraordinary steadfastness," but he warned that Tehran will approach it "with caution."

Foreign Minister Penny Wong has joined a chorus of world leaders and officials to urge all sides of the Middle East conflict to adhere to the ceasefire that now includes Lebanon.

"Australia welcomes the US-brokered ceasefire agreed by Israel and Lebanon," she said in a statement posted on X.

"We call on all parties to the conflict to adhere to it.

"We want a negotiated end to the conflict, Lebanon's sovereignty respected, and Hizballah disarmed in line with UNSC Resolution 1701."

NRMAs Peter Khoury said the wholesale prices of petrol and diesel continued to fall rapidly, and believes the changes should be passed onto drivers at the bowser very soon.

He said the wholesale price of unleaded petrol had fallen to $1.90 p/l, a drop of 40 cents since the peak last month, and diesel had fallen to $2.64 p/l, a drop of 60 cents.

"Average diesel prices should fall below $3/l by the weekend, if not early next week," Khoury added.

In welcome good news for Australians at the pump, the average price of fuel around the country actually fell slightly, despite yesterday's fire at the Viva oil refinery in Geelong.

NRMA's Peter Khoury said this is because the price of oil fell slightly overnight.

"Even a fire at a refinery in Geelong in the middle of a fuel crisis will not affect fuel prices," he said."In fact, prices went globally last night."

He said there was a trend of petrol prices falling in the last two weeks off the back of the ceasefire beign announced, saying it will soon flow on to customers.

Opposition leader Angus Taylor has demanded the government share what was asked of them by the USA.

It comes after US President Donald Trump once again criticised Australia for a lack of support, though the prime minister said there had been no "new request" for support.

Speaking in regional NSW, Taylor said: "We should work with the Americans and provide whatever support we reasonably can, that is requested of us, but we don't even know what has been requested.

"But we don't even know what has been requested. And the prime minister needs to be clear about this."

US President Donald Trump has once again decided to share his thoughts with the world, claiming today could be a history-making day in Lebanon after a ceasefire was agreed between them and Israel.

In his now regularly scheduled Truth Social post at this time of the day, he said: "May have been a historic day for Lebanon. Good things are happening!!!"

Hours ago, he called out militant group Hezbollah, and put pressure on them to "act nicely and well" during the ceasefire, calling it an "important period.

"It will be an [sic] GREAT moment for them if they do. No more killing. Must finally have PEACE!" he said.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has welcomed news that the ceasefire in the Middle East will now include Lebanon, but he has urged all sides of the conflict to abide by it.

"I welcome the announcement of a ceasefire between Israel & Lebanon, and commend the role of the US in facilitating it," he said in a statement on X.

"I urge everyone to fully respect the ceasefire and to comply with international law at all times."

He added that he hoped it would be the first step in finding a long-term solution and working towards "a lasting and comprehensive peace".

Joe Rogan, a prominent podcaster who has been a supporter of Donald Trump in the past, has once again spoken out against the war in the Middle East.

On an interview with actor David Cross on his podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience, Rogan admitted what was going on was "terrifying" in his opinion.

"You're shooting missiles into towns and blowing things up, blowing up infrastructure, blowing up bridges, and Israel's blowing up Lebanon now," he said.

"It's like what the f*** are we doing? Like, how is this still going on?"

Rogan said he believed much of Trump's support base in the United States, including those who swung to him at the last election, would not approve of the war.

"The Iranian regime's terrible," he said.

"But most people that voted for Trump — wanted Trump to be in office — one of the things that was attractive was 'no more wars', and now were in one of the craziest ones."

According to Ipsos polling released yesterday, 66 per cent of Americans want the war to end, even if all US goals are not met.

The US military has widened its efforts beyond the blockade of Iran's ports to allow its forces around the world to stop any ship tied to Tehran or those suspected of carrying supplies that could help its government.

This includes weapons, oil, metals, and electronics.

General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, specifically pointed to operations in the Pacific, saying the US would be targeting vessels that left before the blockade began earlier this week outside the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway for energy and other shipments.

US forces in other areas of responsibility "will actively pursue any Iranian-flagged vessel or any vessel attempting to provide material support to Iran," he told reporters at the Pentagon.