Europe and Japan vow to stabilize energy markets amid Hormuz tensions

European leaders from Britain, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Japan pledged to take “appropriate efforts” to stabilize energy markets and keep the Hormuz Strait open after Gulf strikes and the US‑Israel conflict with Iran, as the IEA authorized a historic strategic reserves release; Iran’s attack on Ras Laffan LNG pushed prices higher, European leaders rejected a US‑led naval deployment, and Japan weighs actions within its constitutional limits.