The United Nations Security Council is set to vote on a resolution on Tuesday, April 7 in New York, United States, regarding the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Initially proposed by Gulf countries seeking a clear mandate to liberate it by force, the resolution has been amended to avoid rejection.
The vote is scheduled for 11 a.m. local time (5 p.m. Paris), just before the deadline set by U.S. President Donald Trump. Trump has threatened to “completely destroy” Iran on Tuesday night if Tehran does not reopen the vital maritime route for global oil supply.
Backed by Gulf countries and the U.S., Bahrain, an elected member of the Security Council, initiated negotiations two weeks ago for a text authorizing any state or coalition to use “all necessary means” to secure ship safety and prevent the strait’s blockade.
The resolution no longer includes authorization for the use of force, only defensive measures. It strongly encourages states to coordinate defensive efforts to ensure navigation security in the Strait of Hormuz, including escorting merchant and commercial vessels.
The resolution also demands that Iran immediately halt any attacks on ships passing through the crucial commercial route and any attempts to hinder navigation freedom. The Council would consider “further measures” against those impeding navigation freedom.
Adopting the resolution would provide Bahrain and its allies with a clear diplomatic rebuff of Iran’s strait blockade. It would also prevent China and Russia from supporting a potential military escalation, demonstrating that the Council remains a diplomatic arena, albeit with limitations.
Since the conflict began in late February due to Israeli-American strikes on Iran, Tehran’s near-paralysis of the Strait of Hormuz—usually responsible for a fifth of global oil production and natural gas—has significantly raised oil prices, impacting the global economy.
Mandates authorizing the use of force by Security Council members are rare. For instance, during the Gulf War in 1990, a vote allowed a U.S.-led coalition to intervene in Iraq after the invasion of Kuwait. In 2011, NATO received approval to intervene in Libya, with Russia’s abstention leading to the downfall of Colonel Gaddafi, causing subsequent Russian anger.
