The United Nations Security Council is scheduled to vote on Tuesday on a significantly softened resolution aimed at unblocking the Strait of Hormuz. This marks a departure from the original intent of Gulf countries sponsoring the resolution, who sought explicit authorization to use force to clear the strategic waterway.
The vote is expected at 11:00 am (0300 GMT), although the final outcome remains uncertain. In recent days, the draft text has been diluted to avoid outright rejection. Notably, the latest version no longer includes any mention of authorizing force, even for defensive purposes.
This vote comes just hours before the deadline set by then-US President Donald Trump at 8:00 pm (midnight GMT) for Iran to reach a deal, warning that failure to comply would result in US military strikes targeting Iran’s power plants and bridges.
Bahrain, supported by the United States and other Gulf oil exporters, initiated negotiations two weeks ago on a draft resolution that would have granted a clear UN mandate for any country to use force to unblock the strait. Since February 28, Iran has effectively imposed a blockade on this vital maritime passage following US and Israeli actions, causing significant disruptions to the global economy.
Jamal Alrowaiei, Bahrain’s ambassador to the UN, emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating that economic terrorism impacting the region and the world is unacceptable. However, opposition from several permanent Security Council members with veto power, including France, Russia, and China, has led to multiple delays and the watering down of the resolution.
French resistance appeared to ease after the inclusion of language specifying that any action must be “defensive” in nature. Earlier in March, the Security Council adopted a strong resolution condemning Tehran’s blockade of the strait. French Ambassador Jerome Bonnafont urged the Council to promptly develop an appropriate defensive response to the crisis.
Despite these adjustments, Russia, a long-time ally of Iran, alongside China, could still exercise their veto power, which caused the postponement of a vote initially planned for the previous Friday.
The latest draft encourages states to coordinate efforts that are defensive and proportionate to the circumstances to ensure the safety and security of navigation, including escorting merchant and commercial vessels. It stops short of explicitly authorizing the use of force.
Furthermore, the resolution demands that Iran immediately halt all attacks on merchant and commercial vessels and cease any attempts to obstruct transit or freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. It also calls for an end to assaults on civilian water, oil, and gas infrastructure.
Daniel Forti, head of UN affairs at the International Crisis Group, noted that Bahrain and its supporters aim to secure a clear diplomatic condemnation of Iran’s obstruction, even if they cannot obtain authorization for military action. Meanwhile, China and Russia are poised to prevent the Council from endorsing a potentially escalatory military response, despite the resolution avoiding direct mention of the roles played by the US and Israel in the conflict.
Historically, UN Security Council mandates permitting the use of force are rare. For instance, during the 1990 Gulf War, the Council authorized a US-led coalition to intervene in Iraq after its invasion of Kuwait. Similarly, in 2011, NATO received approval to intervene in Libya when Russia abstained from the vote, though Moscow later criticized the intervention for leading to the fall of Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi.
