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, in 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 ruler Ayatollah Ali Khamenei who was killed in his compound by an airstrike.

The joined other Iranian-Australians in joyous scenes in city’s across the country, with thousands gathering in Melbourne and Brisbane including Minoo Ghamari, who fled Iran 19 years ago.

She 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.

The news followed weeks of speculation about an American military operation in the region as US began stocking weapons along the country’s borders in the wake of widespread protests against its leadership.

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 countless 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.

It 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 aggression.

Early investigations from the Red Crescent, the same organisation as the Red Cross, indicate at least 200 people have died from US and Israeli airstrikes in Iran.

It’s believed another 700 have been injured.

Several deaths have also 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 passed.

Prominent pro-Palestine protester Josh Lees was seen speaking at the Socialist Alliance rally.

A second, more popular, demonstration was also held in Sydney CBD on Sunday afternoon. 

Hundreds of protesters gathered to celebrate the end of Iran’s regime with some chanting and dancing while waving flags.

Similar celebrations have been enjoyed 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 told AAP.

While he hailed the death of the Ayatollah, he acknowledged the coming days were filled with uncertainty about who would lead Iran.

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.

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.

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.

More to come…