AS IT HAPPENED: Iran dismisses US ceasefire plan, issues its own counterproposal; Trump threatens to 'unleash hell'; Barnaby Joyce demands fuel rationing starts now

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

Here's a recap of some of today's key developments:

Iran dismissed the United States' 15-point proposal to pause the war, instead issuing its own counterproposal and launching more attacks on Israel and Gulf Arab countries.

Germany's defence minister met with his Australian counterpart, Richard Miles, in Canberra, where the allies signed a "status of forces" defence pact.

Energy Minister Chris Bowen revealed the latest numbers of service stations without fuel, led by NSW where 178 have no diesel. Meanwhile the PM dodged questions about cutting the fuel excise and One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce called for fuel rationing.

Reports of a call between US President Donald Trump and his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu indicated a potential fracture in the relationship.

Iran's parliament is working on a bill to formalise the fees it is reportedly charging on some ship transiting through the Strait of Hormuz, local media reports.

The Fars and Tasnim news agencies, both close to Iran's Revolutionary Guard, quoted lawmaker Mohammadreza Rezaei Kouchi as saying that "parliament is pursuing a plan to formally codify Iran's sovereignty, control and oversight over the Strait of Hormuz, while also creating a source of revenue through the collection of fees".

Lloyd's List Intelligence earlier said Iran was running a "de facto 'toll booth' regime" in the strait, describing vessels having to provide manifests, crew details and their destination to Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard.

"While not all ships are paying a direct toll at least two vessels have and the payment is settled in yuan," Lloyd's List said, referring to China's national currency.

Iran has not directly explained the process for ships to go through the strait, though a Foreign Ministry spokesperson appeared to acknowledge, in an interview, Tehran was receiving payments for some ships in an interview.

An Israeli paramedic who arrived first to the scene of a missile attack in Kfar Qasim has described it as "chaos".

"We arrived within minutes with intensive care units and ambulances. At the scene there was chaos," said Tomer Gussman, according to a statement released by Israel's rescue services.

We began searching inside the house and saw destruction in the centre of the home. Five casualties who were inside were injured by the blast."

Gussman said the injured were evacuated to the hospital in mild condition.

Meanwhile, Israel warned of a third barrage of missiles incoming from Iran today.

A fuel tanker has arrived in Sydney's Port Botany after a 14-day voyage from Singapore.

The ship is carrying around 100 million litres of refined petrol and diesel, which is roughly a three-day supply for NSW.

Around 8-10 of these tankers usually arrive in Port Botany every month.

However many have been delayed or cancelled.

The price of Brent crude oil is trading at $US104.10 ($149) per barrel, after conflicting peace talk claims sent another economic shockwave through the market.

Iran's foreign minister said the country has "no intention of negotiating for now" with the US, while Trump claimed Iranian leaders are "afraid" to admit they are in talks.

Brent crude jumped 1.6 per cent to $103.85 following a small dip as Asian markets opened earlier today.

An Israeli attack in southern Lebanon injured multiple people, according to the country's public health ministry.

NNA reports an Israeli strike in the Arab Salim area of Nabatieh wounded eight people.

A Reuters image from the ground in Nabatieh shows rubble from a strike.

Meanwhile, the IDF said an Israeli soldier has been severely injured after mortar fire targeted troops in Lebanon.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has reported incoming missile and drone threats from Iran are headed toward the country.

Air defences are responding to the threats, the UAE defence ministry said in a post on X.

"The public are requested to adhere to the safety and security instructions issued," a spokesperson said.

Anthony Albanese was asked again if Labor was considering temporarily cutting the fuel excise to ease pressure on prices at the pump.

The prime minister has his response to this question well-rehearsed.

"The war in the Middle East is having an impact right around the world ... nowhere is immune," he said during question time.

"Our job is to do what we can to shield people, such as her constituents, from the worst impacts of what is a global event."

The PM did not directly answer the question, posed by independent MP Dai Lee, before listing the government's most recent economic policies, including tax cuts and wiping HECS debts.

Russian oil is starting to flow across Asia as sanctions are relaxed in a bid to ease the global fuel crisis.

South Korea has confirmed it will import some Russian energy products after the US temporarily lifted sanctions.

"The US previously announced a temporary relaxation concerning Russian crude oil and petroleum product sanctions," a Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Resources official told CNN.

AFP reports that 700,000 barrels of Russian crude oil have arrived in the Philippines as the country battles a national energy emergency.

Although importing Russian-origin crude oil is prohibited in Australia, blended Russian oil has reached Australian shores due to a loophole.

"We do not support Russian oil, but we do also understand that there is a blending of Russian oil in various points of the supply chain, which means it can be hard to trace," Energy Minister Chris Bowen told ABC's Insiders last week.

Fake blood and oil has been smeared across the American consulate in Melbourne in a protest targeting the United States' involvement in the war in the Middle East.

Three protesters, who in an Instagram post claimed to be dressed as "oil pigs and the one per cent", including a character who self-identified as 'Gina Minehart', visited the consular general's office in Melbourne, where they asked for Trump, yesterday.

Bottles of engine oil and fake blood were poured outside the consulate's doors in a Melbourne office building, as the trio appeared to mock the US' participation in the war with Iran.

"I have more guns for him, I have more bombs for him and we need a bit more bloodshed to open up the Strait of Hormuz," one of the trio commented.

An attending police officer slipped on the oil as they directed the protesters to leave.

The group was later seen leaving the scene voluntarily.