China and Russia vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution aimed at protecting commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, calling it biased against Iran. The vote took place on Tuesday with 11 members in favor, two abstentions, and China and Russia casting the vetoes.
Key Takeaways
China and Russia vetoed a UN Security Council resolution aimed at protecting commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, calling it biased against Iran. The vote saw 11 members in favor, two abstentions, and two vetoes.
- China and Russia vetoed a UNSC resolution on Strait of Hormuz security
- Resolution proposed by Bahrain was watered down from original draft
- US President Donald Trump issued ultimatum to Iran to reopen strait or face strikes
- Blockade has caused global oil prices to surge, with significant impacts in Asia
The resolution, proposed by Bahrain, encouraged states to coordinate defensive efforts to ensure safe navigation through the strait. It also demanded that Iran immediately halt attacks on merchant vessels and stop impeding freedom of navigation. The initial draft would have authorized countries to use 'all necessary means,' including military action, but was significantly watered down after opposition from Russia, China, and France.
U.S. President Donald Trump issued an ultimatum to Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz by Tuesday evening or face strikes against its power plants and bridges. The conflict has led to a surge in oil prices as Tehran largely closed the strait, which previously accounted for about a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas.
Shipping through the narrow waterway has effectively come to a standstill after Tehran threatened to attack vessels in response to the war launched against Iran by the United States and Israel on February 28. The blockade has sent fuel prices soaring across much of the world, particularly in Asia, where some countries have introduced restrictions on consumption and rationed supplies.
China's UN envoy Fu Cong said adopting such a draft when the US was threatening the survival of a civilization would have sent the wrong message. Russia's UN ambassador Vasily Nebenzya proposed an alternative resolution on maritime security in the Middle East. Iran's UN ambassador praised China and Russia for preventing what he called 'the misuse of the Security Council to legitimize aggression.'
UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed concern over statements suggesting populations would bear the consequences of political and military decisions, while Pope Leo XIV condemned Trump's threats as unacceptable. Regional mediator Pakistan called for a two-week extension to allow further diplomacy.
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