UN Security Council to Vote on Weakened Resolution to Reopen Strait of Hormuz
The United Nations Security Council is scheduled to vote on Tuesday on a resolution aimed at reopening the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. This measure, sponsored by Bahrain, has been repeatedly watered down due to staunch opposition from Russia and China, raising significant doubts about its potential impact on the ongoing conflict, now entering its fifth week.
Key Opposition from Russia and China
Russia and China, both permanent members with veto power on the 15-member Security Council, have expressed strong opposition to the initial proposal. The original Bahrain draft would have authorized countries to use "all necessary means," including military action, to ensure transit through the strait and deter attempts to close it. However, after objections from Russia, China, and France, the resolution was revised to eliminate all references to offensive action, limiting authorization to "all defensive means necessary."
Further weakening occurred when the resolution was stripped of any reference to Security Council authorization, which would have mandated action, and its provisions were confined solely to the Strait of Hormuz, excluding adjacent waters. The current version "strongly encourages states interested in the use of commercial maritime routes in the Strait of Hormuz to coordinate efforts, defensive in nature, commensurate with the circumstances, to contribute to ensuring the safety and security of navigation across the Strait of Hormuz."
US Ultimatum and Regional Tensions
The vote is scheduled just hours before an 8 p.m. Eastern deadline set by US President Donald Trump for Iran to open the strategic waterway or face attacks on its power plants and bridges. Trump has issued stark warnings, stating that Iran's "entire country can be taken out in one night" and that a "whole civilization will die tonight" if Tehran does not comply. This ultimatum follows US and Israeli attacks that began on February 28, which prompted Iran to target civilian infrastructure in over 10 countries, including Gulf neighbors that are major oil and natural gas exporters.
One-fifth of the world's oil typically passes through the Strait of Hormuz, and Iran's blockade during the war has sent energy prices soaring. Gulf nations view this blockade as an existential threat, with Bahrain, which hosts the US Fifth Fleet and serves as the Security Council's Arab representative, pressing for UN action.
Resolution Details and Demands
The resolution to be voted on encourages escorting merchant and commercial vessels and deterring attempts to close, obstruct, or interfere with international navigation through the strait. It also demands that Iran immediately halt attacks on merchant and commercial vessels and stop impeding their freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and attacking civilian infrastructure.
In response to the escalating crisis, the Security Council adopted a Bahrain-sponsored resolution on March 11, condemning Iran's "egregious attacks" and calling for an immediate halt to strikes. That resolution, adopted by a vote of 13-0 with Russia and China abstaining, also condemned Iran's actions in the Strait of Hormuz as a threat to international peace and security.
Broader Diplomatic Stalemate
Russia's UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia and China's UN Ambassador Fu Cong have blamed the US and Israel for starting the war and sparking an expanding global crisis. They argue that the most urgent priority is to end military operations immediately, rather than authorizing further action. This diplomatic stalemate underscores the challenges in achieving consensus within the Security Council, making it doubtful that the resolution, even if adopted, will significantly impact the war given its significantly weakened state.
The outcome of the vote remains uncertain, with potential vetoes from Russia and China looming large. As the deadline approaches, the international community watches closely, aware that the resolution's diluted nature may render it ineffective in addressing the critical issues at hand.
