Bahrain encountered significant resistance Wednesday in its push for United Nations backing to safeguard merchant vessels navigating the Strait of Hormuz, highlighting international disagreements on addressing Iran’s effective blockade of the critical waterway that has triggered an unprecedented energy supply crisis.
As the nation holding April’s rotating leadership of the 15-member UN Security Council, Bahrain distributed an updated draft proposal that eliminated earlier language about mandatory enforcement actions, attempting to address concerns from other countries, especially Russia and China.
However, according to a UN diplomatic source, China, Russia and France presented objections to the revised draft before it could advance to final consideration at Wednesday’s noon deadline through the silence procedure – a process where resolutions pass unless a member nation raises opposition. Bahrain’s UN representative Jamal Fares Alrowaiei informed media that the proposal still needed “a lot of work.”
Leading Gulf nations and Western powers remain without a concrete strategy to restore access to the waterway, which has been essentially blocked since hostilities commenced one month ago, driving energy costs dramatically higher. Approximately 20 percent of global oil and natural gas typically moves through this vital shipping channel.
“There are ongoing communications and discussions with the Council members to bring a convergence of views and find a draft that can garner consensus, so that it can be adopted soon,” Alrowaiei stated.
At the conflict’s outset, US President Donald Trump promised to deploy naval vessels to accompany commercial ships through the strait and urged other nations to assist in securing the passage. Recently, however, he has indicated America should not participate in such efforts, arguing that other countries, particularly European NATO members, should handle reopening the strait.
Maritime traffic ceased using the waterway after Iran attacked vessels in response to strikes launched by the United States and Israel that initiated the conflict on February 28.
Bahrain’s original proposal, obtained by Reuters and supported by fellow Gulf Arab nations and Washington, had specifically referenced Chapter VII of the UN Charter, which permits the Security Council to approve actions from economic sanctions to military intervention.
Diplomatic sources indicated such a resolution would likely have failed, as Iran’s allies Russia and China were prepared to block it if needed.
The modified version reviewed by Reuters eliminated the Chapter VII language but maintained forceful wording essentially approving military action in the Strait of Hormuz, Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman to guarantee passage and prevent disruption of international shipping, including within or near territorial waters.
The UN representatives for Russia, France and China did not provide immediate responses when questioned about their concerns with Bahrain’s proposal.
Security Council resolutions need a minimum of nine supporting votes and cannot face vetoes from the five permanent members: the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France.
According to diplomatic sources, France has proposed an alternative resolution seeking UN authorization after conditions stabilize.
Trump intensified his criticism of NATO Wednesday, warning of potential withdrawal from the long-standing alliance due to other nations’ absence from the Iran conflict.
France responded to Trump’s warnings Wednesday, asserting the military alliance exists to maintain Euro-Atlantic regional security rather than conduct offensive operations in the Strait of Hormuz.
French naval commander Admiral Nicolas Vaujour addressed a Paris security conference Wednesday, explaining France’s efforts to gather multiple nations for discussions on establishing lasting conditions for strait reopening.
Vaujour noted that China must eventually become more directly involved in restoring oil transportation through the strait, given China’s position as the world’s top oil importer via this route.
