AS IT HAPPENED: Wong speaks after international meeting; Trump posts video of bridge bombing; Iran strikes Gulf neighbours; Macron says force option to secure strait 'unrealistic'

Thanks for following our coverage of the conflict in the Middle East.

Here is a recap of today's key developments:

- The Iranian Red Crescent said more than 2000 people, including women and children, have been killed and 21,000 more have been injured since the war began on February 28.

- Global oil prices surged again today as concerns rise over a prolonged war in Iran.

- Foreign Minister Penny Wong joined a meeting of more than 40 countries regarding the Strait of Hormuz, saying the talks are "part of Australia's support for international efforts to ensure critical waterways are not held hostage by the Iranian regime".

- Internet freedom monitor NetBlocks said Iran's internet had been completely out for 34 days, ever since the opening of the current conflict.

- The commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force responded to Donald Trump after he threatened to send Iran "back to the Stone Age where it belongs".

- US President Donald Trump has a video of an Iranian bridge being bombed, promising more destruction to come. Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi responded, saying striking civilian structures "will not compel Iranians to surrender".

Global oil prices have surged again today as concerns rise over a prolonged war in Iran.

Benchmark US crude rose 11.4 per cent to $US111.54 per barrel.

The price of Brent crude, the international standard, increased 7.8 per cent to $US109.03 per barrel.

The US only relies on the Middle East for a fraction of its oil, but Asian countries rely heavily on imports through the Strait of Hormuz.

This trickles down to Australia, which gets most of its oil from Asia.

The federal government has halved the fuel excise and reduced the heavy vehicle road user charge, which it hopes will help bring down prices at the bowser.

Earlier today, Trump boasted about a strike that brought down Iran's biggest bridge and warned there was "much more to follow".

He urged Iran to strike a deal with the US before it was "too late".

Now, the US President is threatening to target electric power plants next.

"Our Military, the greatest and most powerful (by far!) anywhere in the World, hasn't even started destroying what's left in Iran," he said in a Truth Social post.

"Bridges next, then Electric Power Plants!

"New Regime leadership knows what has to be done, and has to be done, FAST!"

Crowds have packed service stations in Karachi, Pakistan.

Motorists and people carrying all sorts of containers are lining up for fuel.

The Iranian Red Crescent said more than 2000 people, including women and children, have been killed and 21,000 more have been injured since the war began on February 28.

The organisation estimates about 2.7 million people, about three per cent of the population, have been internally displaced.

"Homes, neighbourhoods and essential services have been damaged, placing growing pressure on hospitals, shelters, and basic infrastructure," the Iranian Red Crescent said.

Allan has laid out the latest figures on fuel shortages across the state. Currently, there are:

- 76 petrol stations without diesel, 36 of which are in metropolitan Melbourne and 40 in regional and rural Victoria

- 37 petrol stations without unleaded, 15 of which are in metropolitan Melbourne and 22 in regional and rural Victoria

Allan said the figures have been decreasing recently and fuel prices are adjusting due to the halving of the fuel excise.

Victoria has seen an increase in public transport use after making fares free for a month to ease demand for fuel.

"We're monitoring the demand, and demand has gone up on our public transport network, and we did expect that," Allan said.

Regular public transport users are estimated to save more than $220 for the entire month.

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan was asked about the local impact of Trump's 100 per cent tariff on some pharmaceuticals manufactured outside the US at a press conference this morning.

She said she is waiting on advice from the federal government, but said it would add further pressure to the economy.

"It's another day. It's another announcement that is putting pressure into the economy," she said.

"It's adding pressure to the economy at a time when that just makes it harder for working people and families, at a time when the cost of living pressures were already tough.

"Donald Trump's war in Iran is making that even tougher, with pressure being put on global fuel prices.

"And so whilst we work through the very new news that's come out of the White House this morning, and work with the federal government in terms of understanding what that means, what I'm particularly concerned about is what that means for families who need the supplies of these medicines."

The US's largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R Ford, has left Croatia, the US Navy 6th Fleet announced on social media.

The vessel had been docked in Split for further repairs after a reported fire in its laundry room.

It had been deployed to the Middle East but it's not known if it will return to the same theatre, with the Navy's X post stating the ship "remains poised for full mission tasking in support of national objectives in any area of operation".

The USS Abraham Lincoln remains in the Arabian Sea, while the USS George HW Bush began to head to the Middle East from the UK earlier this week.

The Energy Minister has denied reports that Australian troops will take part in any "offensive action" in the Middle East.

"Let me be crystal clear. Australia has made it very clear, from the highest possible levels and the strongest possible way, that we will not be participating in any offensive action in the Middle East," Chris Bowen said.

"That has been the case and remains the case."

The Sydney Morning Herald earlier also quoted Defence Minister Richard Marles who took the same position as Bowen.

Marles played down the Daily Telegraph report about SAS troops being sent to the region, though he said he would not comment on the movement of special forces soldiers.

"The government's posture is providing support to the countries of the Gulf. We've responded to a request from the United Arab Emirates," he said.

"This is not a conflict that we are involved in. We have responded through the provision of our E-7 Wedgetail to a request for providing defensive support to the United Arab Emirates, and that's the extent of what we are doing."