New york: The UN has postponed its vote on protecting the Strait of Hormuz until next week. The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has delayed a vote on a resolution proposed by Bahrain aimed at safeguarding commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. This decision comes after China, a permanent member with veto power, opposed the resolution, which included the authorization of military force.
According to Thai News Agency, diplomatic officials disclosed that the 15-member Security Council meeting, initially set for Friday, was first postponed to Saturday and now further delayed to next week, with no specific date announced. The Permanent Mission of Bahrain to the UN has not provided reasons for the postponement. However, the draft resolution faced strong opposition from China, Russia, and other members, resulting in its content being softened from the original proposal.
Global oil prices have been on the rise since the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran in late February. The resulting conflict, lasting over a month, has caused significant disruptions to this vital shipping route.
As the rotating president of the Security Council, Bahrain finalized a resolution on Thursday, calling for "all necessary safeguards" to protect merchant ships. Bahrain's Foreign Minister, Abdul Latif bin Rashid Al Zayani, addressed the Council on Thursday, expressing hope for a unified stance and announcing a Friday vote.
Bahrain's resolution has garnered support from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the U.S. government. In efforts to reduce international opposition, particularly from Russia and China, Bahrain removed clauses related to binding law enforcement.
For a resolution to pass in the Security Council, it needs at least nine votes in favor and no veto from the five permanent members: the United Kingdom, China, France, Russia, and the United States.
U.S. President Donald Trump has vowed to continue military actions against Iran, asserting on Friday that with more time, the U.S. could reopen shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz, despite mounting pressure on his administration to swiftly resolve the conflict.
Additionally, the United Kingdom hosted a meeting on Thursday, attended by representatives from over 40 countries, to deliberate on efforts to reopen and secure shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and to back Bahrain's resolution initiative.