Vote on authorizing force pushed to next week; schedule delayed again
Adoption uncertain as China, Russia oppose; disagreements persist despite softened language
Adoption uncertain as China, Russia oppose; disagreements persist despite softened language
The U.N. Security Council has postponed a vote on a resolution that would authorize the use of force to lift a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, moving the decision to next week.
Reuters reported April 3 (local time) that the meeting of the Council’s 15 members to vote on the measure was postponed again. The session had been set for April 3, moved to April 4, and is now delayed to an undetermined date. Several diplomats told Reuters that no new date has been announced.
Bahrain, which currently holds the Council presidency, drafted the resolution with backing from Gulf Arab states seeking to protect passage through the strait. Bahrain’s U.N. mission did not respond to Reuters’ requests for comment on the delay. The draft would allow member states, individually or through voluntary multinational naval cooperation, to secure transit through the strait and to use “all necessary defensive measures” to respond to attempts to block, obstruct or interfere.
Opposition from China and Russia has left the resolution’s adoption in doubt. Bahrain revised the text to address those concerns, removing language on enforcement. A Security Council resolution requires at least nine votes in favor from the 15 members, and none of the five permanent members—the United States, China, the United Kingdom, France or Russia—may veto it.
Iran has said it intends to retain control of the strait after the conflict ends. Tehran has also reportedly drafted plans to charge ships transit fees for passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
