The Iran war has virtually halted activity in the key waterway, through which a fifth of the world's crude supplies and a substantial amount of gas normally run -- sending oil prices soaring.

Restarting the flow of shipments of "fertilizers, food and energy" was an "urgent priority", Kaja Kallas, the EU's foreign policy chief, told a press conference.

But a proposal to change the mandate of the EU's naval mission in the Red Sea, Operation Aspides, to help with securing the strait drew little enthusiasm from member states, she said.

"There was in our discussions a clear wish to strengthen this operation, but for the time being, there was no appetite in changing the mandate," Kallas said, after a meeting with foreign ministers from the EU's 27 nations in the Belgian capital.

"Nobody wants to go actively in this war," she added.

Ahead of the talks, Kallas had suggested extending Aspides was the "fastest" way for the bloc to boost security in the Strait of Hormuz, where Iranian retaliatory attacks to a US-Israeli bombing campaign have largely halted maritime traffic.

But several nations, including Italy, Spain and Germany indicated they were cold to the idea.

Launched in 2024 to prevent attacks on trade vessels by Iran-backed Houthi rebel forces, Aspides currently has three warships -- one French, one Greek and one Italian.

French President Emmanuel Macron said last week that Paris and its allies were preparing a "defensive" mission to re-open the strait.

He has also pledged to increase France's contribution to Aspides, with two additional frigates "over the long term".

US President Donald Trump, criticised US allies on Monday for their lukewarm response to his call for support to protect shipping in the Strait of Hormuz -- but said he expected France and Britain to help.

On Sunday he had warned NATO countries the alliance faced a "very bad" future if they did not lend a hand.