UN proposal on opening Strait of Hormuz gets watered down
AP News • • world
Key Points:
- Bahrain has revised a U.N. resolution on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, removing language that would have authorized offensive military action to secure the waterway, following opposition from China, Russia, and France.
- The final draft permits only defensive measures to ensure safe passage through the strait, which is critical for global oil shipments, and authorizes such actions for at least six months with prior Security Council notification.
- The Security Council postponed the vote originally scheduled for Good Friday, with diplomats anticipating a Saturday vote as efforts continue to avoid a veto from permanent members.
- China and Russia criticized the initial proposal, urging de-escalation and dialogue, while France expressed conditional acceptance of the revised, defense-focused draft.
- The resolution follows a previous March 11 Security Council resolution condemning Iran’s attacks in the Gulf and calling for an immediate halt to actions blocking shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
