The United Nations Security Council has postponed a key vote on a draft resolution aimed at safeguarding maritime navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, pushing deliberations to next week amid sharp divisions among major powers.
The 15-member council was due to vote on Friday on a Bahrain-sponsored proposal authorizing the use of “defensive” force to protect commercial shipping from attacks attributed to Iran. Bahrain currently holds the council’s rotating presidency.
The delay comes as tensions remain elevated following retaliatory measures by Tehran in response to US-Israeli strikes that began on February 28, which have effectively disrupted traffic through the strategic waterway.
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical global chokepoint, handling roughly 20 percent of the world’s oil shipments, dw.com reports.
Diplomatic sources indicate that the draft resolution has been significantly revised in an effort to win broader support after facing resistance from key members, including China and Russia.
Beijing has firmly rejected any language that could be interpreted as authorizing military action. Addressing the council, China’s UN envoy Fu Cong warned that endorsing the use of force would “legitimize unlawful and indiscriminate military action,” cautioning that such a move risks further escalation and serious consequences.
Under UN rules, any resolution requires at least nine votes in favor and must avoid a veto from the five permanent members, the United States, United Kingdom, France, China, and Russia, highlighting the diplomatic hurdles facing the proposal.
