UN Security Council to vote on Hormuz resolution as China opposes force authorisation

New York: The United Nations Security Council is set to vote on a Bahrain-backed resolution aimed at protecting commercial shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz, diplomats said on Friday, while China has made clear it opposes any authorisation for the use of force.

According to diplomats, the meeting of the 15-member council and the vote were scheduled for Saturday morning instead of Friday as had earlier been planned, because Friday is a UN holiday.

Oil prices have climbed sharply since the United States and Israel struck Iran at the end of February, triggering a conflict that has continued for more than a month and effectively shut the strategic waterway.

Diplomats said Bahrain, which currently holds the presidency of the Security Council, completed a draft resolution seen by Reuters that would authorise all defensive means necessary to safeguard commercial shipping. Earlier on Thursday, Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani told the council that a vote would be held on Friday, God willing, and said Bahrain hoped for a unified position from this esteemed council.

Bahrain, supported in its push for a resolution by other Gulf Arab states and the United States, had earlier removed an explicit reference to binding enforcement in an effort to address objections from other countries, especially Russia and China.

The draft reviewed by Reuters authorises the measures for a period of at least six months ... and until the council decides otherwise.

However, China’s UN envoy Fu Cong told the Security Council on Thursday morning that Beijing opposed authorising force. He said such a step would be legitimising the unlawful and indiscriminate use of force, which would inevitably lead to further escalation of the situation and lead to serious consequences.

A fourth version of the resolution had been placed under the council’s so-called silence procedure for approval until Thursday noon, but a Western diplomatic source said the silence was broken by China, France and Russia. Diplomats later said the text had been finalised, or put in blue, allowing a vote to be held.

Support and voting requirements

A Security Council resolution needs at least nine votes in favour and no veto from any of the five permanent members: Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States.

Al Zayani told the council that Iran’s unlawful and unjustified attempt to control international navigation in the Strait of Hormuz threatened global interests and required a decisive response.

Ahmed Aboul Gheit, secretary-general of the 22-member League of Arab States, also told the Security Council that the organisation supported Bahrain’s efforts to secure a resolution.

On Thursday, Britain hosted a meeting involving more than 40 countries on efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and ensure safe passage through it. Britain also voiced support for Bahrain’s move to seek a Security Council resolution on the issue.

On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump said attacks would continue, but he did not present a plan for reopening the strait. That pushed oil prices higher still by increasing concern that the United States might not assume a major role in guaranteeing safe passage for shipping through the waterway.

Such a move would be legitimising the unlawful and indiscriminate use of force, which would inevitably lead to further escalation of the situation and lead to serious consequences.