The decisions were made as many countries grappled with the virtual shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz in the Gulf, through which 20 percent of oil passes in peacetime, and as Iran continued to target facilities in oil- and gas-rich Gulf neighbours in retaliation for the US-Israeli war against it.

The French steps comprised an easing of some payroll levies, extended deadlines for tax payments and public loans for companies in the transport and fishing sectors that ask.

Fishing associations dismiss them as "mini-measures" falling far short of what was needed for trawlers to be able to set out to sea.

According to a government letter seen by AFP, Paris also asked oil refineries to swiftly check to see if they could "quickly and temporarily increase the production of refined products".

The aim was to "alleviate market tensions on refined products in Europe and reduce European market tensions if this situation is prolonged".

One refining company, North Atlantic, told AFP that it believed it could only increase production "by a maximum 10 percent... if everything aligns".

French oil giant TotalEnergies was already producing at maximum capacity at its refineries, one expert told AFP.

France imports half of the diesel it requires.

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TotalEnergies