AS IT HAPPENED: US sends Iran 15-point peace plan, reports say; Trump claims Iran gave him 'gift': Government to introduce anti-price gouging bill for fuel

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

Here's a recap of today's developments:

- The US sent Iran a 15-point plan for a possible ceasefire while simultaneously moving thousands more troops to the Middle East

- Iran mocked US President Donald Trump's claim that negotiations are under way as it launched more retaliatory attacks on Israel and its neighbours

- Trump also claimed that Iran has given him a "very big present worth a tremendous amount of money" in relation to the Strait of Hormuz

- In Australia, 604 petrol stations are out of at least one type of fuel, with NSW seeing the worst shortages

- Energy Minister Chris Bowen confirmed all six fuel shipments that were cancelled due to the global conflict have been replaced

- Treasurer Jim Chalmers introduced a bill to give the consumer watchdog greater authority to clamp down on fuel companies' price gouging motorists

- And Prime Minister Anthony confirmed there will be another meeting of the national cabinet next week

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has confirmed that the national cabinet will reconvene next week.

"The National Cabinet meeting will meet next week to further coordinate the activity that we are taking and indeed, coordinating that activity is important that we have national consistency," he said in question time.

New images out of north-western Iran show burnt-out cars and living rooms reduced to rubble in Tabriz, an Iranian city home to 1.7 million people.

A residential building in Tabriz was hit during overnight strikes by the US-Israeli campaign.

At least 1500 Iranians have been killed since the US and Israel launched their attack on February 28, according to Iran's Health Ministry.

On a long stretch of the Mid Western Highway more than 500 kilometres west of Sydney, there isn't much choice on where to fill up your tank.

But the lucky few who pass through the outback town of Weethalle have the chance to secure the last petrol in New South Wales still retailing for under $2 a litre.

The AGnVET Services store in the town is still using unleaded fuel it obtained before the massive price spikes, nine.com.au was told.

Once that runs out, it will be forced to rise prices in line with the current market.

But for now, the town's roughly 250 locals as well as any passers-through are enjoying filling up with unleaded for just $1.98 a litre.

The next cheapest unleaded in the state is retailing at $2.20 a litre in Coomba Park on the NSW MidCoast.

Iran is considering turning the Strait of Hormuz into the world's most expensive toll booth, charging vessels an immense sum for safe passage.

Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is pushing for ways to monetise its control of the narrow body of water, through which 20 per cent of the world's oil passes.

Iranian news outlet Daily Javan said charging vessels for safe passage would "compensate Iran's losses in the war".

To pay for the damage Iran has suffered in the war, the article wrote oil tankers could be taxed $US50 a barrel - a 50 per cent markup.

Such a move would send oil prices surging worldwide, including in Australia.

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Some more details have come out about US President Donald Trump's 15-point ceasefire proposal offered to Iran.

The plan was submitted to Iran via intermediaries from Pakistan, a person briefed on the details of the proposal told the Associated Press.

Israeli officials, who have been advocating for Trump to continue the war against Iran, were surprised by the ceasefire proposal, the person said.

The proposal reportedly addresses Iran's ballistic missile and nuclear programs, as well as issues regarding the Strait of Hormuz.

Earlier on Tuesday (today AEDT), Trump said the US was in talks with Iran to end the war, but Iran quickly hit back with a highly defiant statement.

Energy Minister Chris Bowen has just provided an update to parliament on national petrol supply issues.

Currently, there are 604 petrol stations across the country out of at least one type of fuel, up from 600 yesterday.

Some of the worst shortages are in NSW, where around one in every eight servos are out of at least one type of fuel.

Here's a state-by-state breakdown:

• NSW - 187 out of diesel, 313 out of at least one type of fuel, out of 2417 petrol stations
• Victoria - 134 out of at least one type of fuel, out of 1627 petrol stations
• Queensland - 55 out of diesel, 35 out of regular unleaded out of 1800 petrol stations
• South Australia - 49 out of at least one type, out of 700 total
• Western Australia - four out of diesel, six out of all fuel out of 771 total
• Tasmania - one without diesel, six with no unleaded out of 250
• ACT - one without diesel out of 53
• Northern Territory - no outages attributable to fuel supply

The Philippines has just become the first country in the world to declare a state of national energy emergency in response to the war in Iran.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said he has signed an executive order to safeguard energy security, due to the "imminent danger posed upon the availability and stability of the country's energy supplies".

A committee has been formed to ensure the availability of fuel, food, medicines and agricultural goods.

Energy conservation measures and fuel subsidies will also be introduced.

Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong has admitted she is "gravely concerned" at the prospect of the Middle East conflict expanding into Lebanon when she met with her Israeli counterpart Gideon Sa'ar.

In a statement, Wong described "the loss of life and displacement of more than one million civilians" as a tragedy, and insisted she did not want to see an occupation of southern Lebanon by Israel.

"Australia again calls for parties to adhere to international humanitarian law and for the protection of civilians and aid workers," she said.

The pair also discussed escalating settler violence in the West Bank.

Petrol prices are continuing their upward creep.

In the week up to Monday March 22, the average price for unleaded across Australia was 238 cents a litre and diesel averaged 282.4 cents, according to the Australian Instittue of Petroleum.

But those prices are already a thing of the past for most.

At a BP service station in Hastings Point on NSW's far north coast this afternoon, unleaded 91 was being sold for 258.9 cents a litre and premium diesel for 319.9 cents a litre.

In Exmouth, a coastal resort town in Western Australia, unleaded was selling for 284 cents and diesel for 325 cents a litre.

In most regions, the cheapest unleaded is now at around 240 cents a litre.