United Nations — Bahrain has It has been significantly softened A proposed UN resolution on reopening Strait of Hormuz Amid opposition from China and Russia regarding allowing countries to use force Securing the vital waterway Iran has largely cut off the global shipping route.
The final draft of the proposal, obtained by The Associated Press on Thursday, allows for defensive — but not offensive — measures to ensure ships can safely transit the strait. A fifth of the world’s oil usually passes through the waterway Iran’s stranglehold during the war He sent Energy prices are rising.
Bahrain’s initial draft would have allowed countries to “use all necessary means” — UN language that could include possible military action — “in the Strait of Hormuz, the Gulf and the Gulf of Oman” to secure passage and deter attempts to interfere with navigation.
Russia, China and France, all countries with veto power in the 15-member Security Council, expressed their opposition to approving the use of force. The final draft deletes any reference to authorizing offensive military action.
The Security Council had set a date to vote on the resolution on Friday, which is a United Nations holiday on the occasion of Good Friday. But it later canceled that meeting, and UN diplomats, speaking on condition of anonymity to preview the new timing before announcing it, said the vote was now expected to take place on Saturday.
The three countries’ views on the changes are not known, so the vote will be closely monitored, and the postponement will give diplomats more time to avoid a veto.
The proposal now allows countries “to use all necessary defensive means appropriate to the conditions in the Strait of Hormuz and adjacent waters.” Safe passage And deterring attempts to interfere with international navigation “for a period of at least six months.”
It says countries acting alone in “multinational maritime partnerships” can take defensive measures provided they provide advance notice to the Security Council.
He comes after US President Donald Trump said in a speech Wednesday that America and Israel will continue to bomb Iran “with great force” during the next two or three weeks He did not give a final deadline for the conflict. Iran continued its fragmentation attacks in the region and its stranglehold The strait was a pain point For Trump and the world with rising energy prices Disturbing the global economy.
Before Bahrain published its final draft, Russia’s UN Ambassador Vasily Nebenzia said the proposal “does not solve the puzzle.” What that will do is end hostilities, he said.
China’s UN Ambassador Fu Cong opposed the original draft authorization for use of force, calling it “illegal and arbitrary.” Speaking to the council earlier Thursday, he warned that this would “inevitably lead to a further escalation of the situation and lead to serious consequences.” He urged the Council to “proceed with caution” and work actively to stop escalation and engage in dialogue.
France’s UN Ambassador Jerome Bonafonte also called for a halt to the escalation, telling the council that “defensive measures that avoid any large-scale use of force must be strengthened.” He later indicated that a new defense-focused draft might be acceptable.
the The Security Council adopted a resolution sponsored by Bahrain On March 11, he condemned Iran’s “atrocious attacks” on Gulf states and called on Tehran to immediately halt its strikes, which followed the US and Israel’s launch of war on February 28.
The resolution, which was adopted by 13 votes to zero, with Russia and China abstaining, also condemned Iran’s actions in the Strait of Hormuz as a threat to international peace and security, and called for the immediate cessation of all measures preventing shipping.
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Associated Press writer Farnoush Amiri contributed to this report.