By Rosemary
The United Nations Security Council is set to vote Tuesday on a resolution aimed at restoring safe navigation through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, even as deep divisions among major powers cast uncertainty over its fate.
The measure, sponsored by Bahrain, has undergone repeated revisions to address objections from Russia and China, both of which hold veto power, leaving diplomats unsure whether it can secure passage.
The vote comes just hours before a high-stakes deadline set by Donald Trump, who has demanded that Iran reopen the narrow shipping corridor or face potential military strikes targeting critical infrastructure, including power plants and bridges. Roughly one-fifth of global oil supplies typically transit the strait, making its disruption a major driver of surging energy prices since hostilities escalated.
Despite the urgency, diplomats acknowledge that even if adopted, the resolution is unlikely to alter the trajectory of the conflict, now entering its fifth week. The original draft proposed by Bahrain had called for member states to use “all necessary means,” a phrase widely understood in U.N. practice to authorize military force. However, resistance from Russia, China, and France forced negotiators to dilute the language significantly.
Subsequent revisions stripped references to offensive action, narrowing the scope to defensive measures intended to safeguard maritime navigation. Further concessions removed explicit Security Council authorization for coordinated action, reducing the resolution’s legal and operational weight. The final draft now focuses exclusively on the Strait of Hormuz, abandoning earlier provisions that extended to surrounding waters.
Under its current language, the resolution calls on states with an interest in maintaining commercial shipping routes to coordinate defensive efforts appropriate to prevailing conditions. These efforts may include escorting merchant vessels and deterring attempts to obstruct or disrupt transit through the waterway. It also demands that Iran immediately cease attacks on commercial shipping and refrain from interfering with freedom of navigation or targeting civilian infrastructure.
The escalation in the Gulf has widened beyond maritime disruption. Since late February, Iranian strikes have reportedly hit civilian sites—including hotels, airports, and residential areas—across more than ten देशों, including neighboring Gulf states that are among the world’s leading exporters of oil and natural gas. Regional governments view the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz as a direct and existential threat to their economic stability.
Bahrain, which hosts the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet and currently holds the rotating presidency of the Security Council, has taken a leading role in pushing for international action. The kingdom argues that securing the strait is essential not only for regional stability but also for the functioning of global energy markets.
Meanwhile, President Trump has intensified his rhetoric, reiterating demands for Iran to comply with U.S. conditions. After praising a recent U.S. military rescue operation involving downed aircrew, he warned that failure to reopen the strait could result in devastating consequences. On Tuesday, he escalated his warning further, suggesting that Iran risks catastrophic destruction if it does not meet the deadline.
Russia and China have sharply criticized Washington and its ally Israel, blaming them for initiating the conflict and fueling a broader international crisis. Their representatives at the United Nations have argued that the immediate priority should be a cessation of hostilities rather than measures that could be interpreted as enabling further military escalation.
The Security Council has previously addressed the crisis. On March 11, it adopted another Bahrain-backed resolution condemning Iran’s attacks on Gulf states and calling for an immediate halt to hostilities. That measure passed with broad support, though Russia and China abstained, signaling ongoing divisions within the council.
As Tuesday’s vote approaches, diplomats remain uncertain whether the latest, heavily diluted proposal can overcome geopolitical rivalries. Even if it avoids a veto, its limited scope underscores the challenges facing the international community in responding decisively to a rapidly intensifying conflict centered on one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints.