UN Security Council to vote on Hormuz resolution ahead of Trump deadline

WASHINGTON: The United Nations Security Council is preparing to vote on a Bahrain-drafted resolution concerning the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, coinciding with the deadline set by US President Donald Trump for Iran to reopen the strategic waterway.

The resolution, drafted with input from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Jordan, calls on states using the Strait for commercial navigation to coordinate defensive measures, including escorting merchant vessels. It also demands that Iran immediately cease attacks on civilian and commercial infrastructure, such as oil, gas, and water installations.

Tensions in the Strait have escalated since US-Israeli strikes on Iranian targets on February 28, prompting retaliatory actions from Tehran, including attacks on commercial ships and deployment of naval mines. While Iran has allowed selective passage of “non-hostile” ships, disruptions have drawn international concern.

Earlier drafts of the resolution considered authorising force under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, but objections from China, Russia, and some European members led to its removal. The current text focuses on defensive coordination, respects international law, and requires periodic reporting to the Security Council on any further Iranian provocations.

The vote requires nine affirmative votes and no veto from any permanent member to pass. China and Russia have warned the resolution could implicitly legitimise force, while France and the UK have pushed for a strictly defensive mandate.

Analysts note that the resolution has both symbolic and practical significance: it internationalises the crisis, pressures Tehran, and underscores the dependence of GCC states on US military support. Continued disruption of the Strait threatens global energy supplies and commercial shipping, including liquefied natural gas deliveries to Asia and Europe.

Tuesday’s vote, just hours before President Trump’s self-imposed deadline, underscores the high stakes and worldwide attention focused on the Strait of Hormuz.