The United Nations Security Council is set to vote Friday on a revised resolution aimed at restoring safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, after earlier provisions allowing broader military action were diluted amid opposition from major powers.
The draft resolution, put forward by Bahrain and obtained Thursday, now permits only defensive measures to protect shipping routes. Earlier language authorising “all necessary means”- a phrase that could include offensive military force- has been removed following resistance from Russia and China, both veto-wielding members of the council.
The waterway, through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply typically passes, has been severely disrupted during the ongoing conflict involving Iran, sending global energy prices sharply higher.
Under the revised proposal, member states would be allowed to take “defensive means necessary and proportionate to the circumstances” to ensure safe transit in the strait and surrounding waters for an initial six-month period.
Countries operating individually or as part of multinational naval coalitions would be required to notify the council in advance of any such actions.
The original draft had proposed broader authority covering the Strait of Hormuz, the Gulf, and the Gulf of Oman, including potential military intervention to deter interference with maritime navigation.
Opposition from France, alongside Russia and China, led to the removal of offensive provisions. It remains unclear how these nations will vote on the revised text, making Friday’s decision closely watched.
The vote comes amid escalating tensions in the region. Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the United States and Israel would intensify strikes on Iran over the coming weeks.
Tehran has continued retaliatory attacks, while its control over the strait has become a focal point of global concern due to its impact on oil supplies.
Russia’s UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia criticised the initiative, saying it fails to address the root cause of the crisis and stressing that an end to hostilities is essential.”
China’s envoy Fu Cong earlier described the initial proposal as “unlawful and indiscriminate,” warning it could further escalate tensions and calling for restraint and dialogue.
France’s representative Jérôme Bonnafont also urged de-escalation, emphasizing that any response should avoid broad use of force. He later signaled that the revised, defense-focused draft may be more acceptable.
In a related move, the Security Council on 11 March adopted another Bahrain-backed resolution condemning Iran’s attacks on Gulf states and calling for an immediate halt to strikes.
That measure passed 13-0, with Russia and China abstaining, and also denounced disruptions to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz as a threat to international peace and security.
