Washington-(Web Desk)_The United Nations Security Council is set to vote on a resolution proposed by Bahrain aimed at safeguarding commercial vessels in and around the Strait of Hormuz, according to diplomats. However, China has signaled strong opposition, particularly against any clause that could permit the use of force.
Diplomatic sources said the vote, initially expected on Friday, has been rescheduled for Saturday morning due to a UN holiday. The 15-member council will review the draft amid rising global concern over maritime security.
Oil markets have reacted sharply, with prices climbing since late February when strikes by the United States and Israel on Iran triggered a prolonged conflict, effectively disrupting traffic through the crucial waterway.
The draft resolution, prepared by Bahrain in its role as current council chair, calls for “all necessary defensive measures” to ensure the safety of commercial shipping. It proposes that such measures remain in place for at least six months or until the council decides otherwise.
Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani had earlier expressed hope for a unified stance from council members. To gain wider support, Bahrain reportedly softened earlier language that explicitly mentioned enforcement, addressing concerns raised by countries such as Russia and China.
Despite these changes, China’s UN ambassador Fu Cong warned that authorizing force could worsen tensions, describing it as a step that might legitimize excessive and uncontrolled military action with serious consequences.
Efforts to finalize the resolution faced setbacks when a procedural approval process was interrupted by objections from China, France, and Russia, diplomats said.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has pledged to continue military pressure but has not outlined a clear strategy for reopening the Strait. This uncertainty has further unsettled markets, raising doubts about whether Washington will take a leading role in securing safe passage through the vital shipping route.
US strikes destroy Iran’s tallest bridge; Trump warns more
Earlier,
President Donald Trump on Friday said the US can open the Strait of Hormuz with a little more time.
“With a little more time, we can easily open the Hormuz Strait, take the oil and make a fortune,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday said that Israeli strikes have destroyed about 70% of Iran’s steel production capacity, significantly hindering its ability to manufacture weapons.
“Together with our American friends, we continue to crush the regime in Iran. We are eliminating commanders, bombing bridges, bombing infrastructures,” Netanyahu said in a video statement.
“In recent days, the Air Force has destroyed 70% of Iran’s steel production capacity,” he said.
“This is a tremendous achievement that deprives the Revolutionary Guards of both financial resources and the ability to produce many weapons.”
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.