France and Britain chaired a meeting on April 17 where leaders demanded the unconditional reopening of the Strait of Hormuz following Iran's declaration that the strait is open to commercial shipping during a 10-day ceasefire linked to Lebanon. Oil prices fell and stock markets rose amid the developments, while more than a dozen countries expressed willingness to join a defensive mission to protect navigation. The meeting followed U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Iran starting February 28, which prompted Iran's partial closure of the strait.