New York, USA – Two UN diplomats revealed that international efforts led by the Kingdom of Bahrain – which holds the current presidency of the UN Security Council – to pass a UN resolution aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz and securing international navigation have stalled.
The sources confirmed that Bahrain was forced to postpone the vote on the draft resolution, which had been scheduled for Saturday. This came as a result of strong opposition from Russia and China, despite substantial amendments made to the original draft to appease the major powers.
“Defensive” amendments and diplomatic concessions
The two diplomats, who spoke on condition of anonymity, explained that the final draft of the resolution prepared by Manama authorized the use of “all necessary defensive measures” (excluding offensive operations) to protect commercial vessels in the Strait.
The draft stipulated that these measures would remain in effect “for at least six months.” They could also continue until a contrary resolution was adopted by the Council. In an attempt to circumvent a potential Russian and Chinese veto, the Bahraini mission removed an explicit reference to the resolution’s “binding enforcement.” As a result, the language was softened.
However, the postponement of the vote until next week indicates that this “watered-down” version remains unacceptable to Moscow and Beijing. Both capitals fear that the resolution could be used as a pretext to legitimize a permanent Western military presence in the Gulf.
Broad Gulf and international support
Despite obstacles within the Security Council, Bahrain’s initiative enjoys strong support from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states and the United States.
In this context, Britain hosted a broad meeting last Thursday that included more than 40 countries to discuss joint efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and ensure safe passage. London also explicitly declared its support for Bahrain’s efforts to secure an international legal instrument to safeguard this vital global energy artery.
Stalemate awaiting agreement
According to the Palestinian news agency Ma’an and UN reports, Bahrain sought the unanimous agreement of all 15 Security Council members. However, the sharp division between the Western bloc (led by Washington and London) and the Eastern bloc (Moscow and Beijing) over the interpretation of “defensive measures” has temporarily stalled the negotiations.
The Bahraini mission in New York has not yet issued an official statement regarding the reasons for the postponement. Meanwhile, the world awaits the results of the vote expected next week, amid warnings that the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz threatens a complete collapse of global supply chains.
