Russia and China blocked Tuesday an attempt by the UN Security Council to adopt a resolution condemning the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, much to the dismay of Gulf countries who were hoping for approval to free it by force. The resolution put forward by Bahrain, amended several times to avoid a veto, received 11 votes in favor, two against (Russia and China), and two abstentions (Pakistan and Colombia).
This vote came just hours before Donald Trump’s ultimatum expired. The US President gave Iran until Tuesday 8 PM (Washington time, 1 AM Paris time) to unblock navigation in this vital waterway, warning of the potential eradication of “an entire civilization” if not.
The rejection of the resolution “does not prevent the United States from continuing to act in legitimate self-defense and to defend our allies and partners. President Trump will continue necessary actions to defend our people and the free world,” said US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz in response to the vote.
This vote “sends the wrong signal to the world”: that threats against navigation do not prompt “decisive action by the organization responsible for maintaining international peace and security,” complained Bahrain’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdoullatif ben Rachid Al Zayani, speaking on behalf of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan.
France, Russia, and China Show Strong Reservations
Sponsored by Gulf countries and the US, Bahrain, an elected member of the Security Council, had initiated negotiations two weeks ago on a text that would authorize any state or coalition to use “all necessary means” to ensure ship security and prevent the blockade of the strait. This idea faced strong objections, notably from France, Russia, and China. The addition last week of a provision stipulating that the means used could only be “defensive” resolved French opposition.
Faced with the lingering threat of vetoes from longtime Iran allies Russia and China, the planned Friday vote was postponed. After further revisions, the last version of the text seen by AFP on Monday no longer spoke of authorization for the use of force, even defensive. It strongly encouraged “States” involved “to coordinate efforts, of a defensive and proportionate nature, to ensure navigation security in the strait, including by escorting merchant and commercial ships.”
It also demanded that Iran “immediately cease all attacks on ships” passing through this crucial commercial route and “any attempt” to restrict navigation freedom. It mentioned the possibility for the Council to impose “other measures” against those undermining this navigation freedom.
Since the conflict began on February 28 with Israeli-American strikes on Iran, Tehran’s quasi-paralysis of the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world’s oil production and liquefied natural gas normally pass, has led to a sharp rise in hydrocarbon prices with global economic consequences.
Security Council mandates authorizing member states to use force are relatively rare. During the Gulf War in 1990, a vote allowed a US-led coalition to intervene in Iraq following Kuwait’s invasion. In 2011, NATO obtained approval to intervene in Libya thanks to Russia’s abstention, which then regretted the ousting of Colonel Gadhafi.
