"Operation Aspides already makes a crucial contribution in protecting shipping in the Red Sea but its activities could also be extended to the strait," Kallas said after a meeting of European Union defence ministers.

Kallas said that some countries were already promising to contribute more ships to the mission and that could help if the decision is taken to extend its scope.

Reeling from Trump's war on Iran and the global economic fallout, Europe has been scrambling to play a role to get shipping moving again once the conflict ends.

France and Britain have led talks on a potential naval effort in the region, with defence ministers from four dozen countries to hold a fresh round of discussions Tuesday.

EU defence ministers in March initially rebuffed proposals to expand the Red Sea mission.

Negotiations between the United States and Iran to end the Middle East war and re-open the crucial waterway appear to have stalled.

Iran's blockade of the strait, through which about a fifth of the world's oil and natural gas usually passes, has pushed up global energy prices.

The EU's Aspides mission was launched in 2024 to help protect shipping in the Red Sea, another crucial Middle East waterway, from attacks by the Houthis in Yemen.