France, April 1 -- Meeting in Tokyo on Wednesday, the two leaders stressed the importance of restoring stability and ensuring the free passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for global oil and gas supplies.

"We share a belief in international law and in the international order based on the United Nations Charter," Macron said. "We both advocate the return to peace, to a ceasefire, to calm, and to the free movement of people and goods through the Strait of Hormuz."

Macron visits Japan, South Korea for talks dominated by Middle East war

Japan, which relies on the Middle East for roughly 90 to 95 percent of its oil imports, has already tapped into strategic reserves to cushion the impact of rising fuel prices.

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