The UN Security Council is anticipated to vote on a resolution from Bahrain next week to safeguard commercial shipping in the vicinity of the Strait of Hormuz, according to diplomats on Friday. However, China, possessing veto power, has expressed clear opposition to authorizing any use of force.
Initially scheduled for Friday, a meeting of the Council’s 15 members was rescheduled for Saturday and has now been postponed until next week, with no specific date announced yet.
Bahrain’s UN mission did not immediately respond to inquiries about the delay reasons. The resolution has encountered opposition from China, Russia, and other nations and has been revised from its original version.
Following the US and Israel’s strike on Iran at the end of February, triggering a month-long conflict and significant disruption in the shipping route, oil prices have risen sharply. Bahrain, as the current chair of the Security Council, finalized a draft on Thursday that would permit “all necessary defensive means” to safeguard commercial shipping.
During a council session on Thursday, Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani indicated that a vote was expected on Friday and expressed anticipation for a unified stance from the council.
Supported by other Gulf Arab states and Washington, Bahrain had previously removed a direct mention of binding enforcement in the resolution to address objections from other nations, particularly Russia and China.
A revised version of the resolution was subjected to a silence procedure for approval until Thursday at noon. Despite objections from China, France, and Russia, the text was finalized, allowing for a vote.
The resolution authorizes the measures “for a minimum of six months and until the council decides otherwise.” However, China’s UN representative Fu Cong voiced opposition to authorizing force during the Security Council meeting on Thursday morning.
President Donald Trump of the US has pledged to continue actions against Iran and expressed confidence in reopening the Strait of Hormuz with more time, amidst growing pressure for a swift resolution to the conflict.
On Thursday, Britain convened a meeting with over 40 countries to discuss efforts to reopen and ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, endorsing Bahrain’s initiative to secure a resolution on the matter.