UN Security Council to vote on protecting ships in Strait of Hormuz on Saturday

The UN Security Council vote on a resolution concerning the protection of ships in the Strait of Hormuz has been postponed from today until Saturday, the BBC reported, citing a UN spokesperson. Council members decided to delay the vote, the spokesperson said.

The draft resolution, submitted by Bahrain, is intended to secure approval for “defensive measures” to protect shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian diplomacy reacted sharply to the initiative, according to AFP. “Any provocative step by the aggressors and their supporters, including the UN Security Council, regarding the situation in the Strait of Hormuz will only make the situation more complicated,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said.

The draft resolution is backed by six Gulf states and Jordan, and its wording has been softened, according to the AP. The final draft does not include the option of offensive military action, as Russia, China and France—all of which have veto power on the UN Security Council—had called for that wording to be removed.

The United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran on 28 February, sparking a regional conflict. In retaliation, Tehran and its allies began attacking not only Israel and US military facilities in the Middle East, but also civilian targets, including oil infrastructure in neighbouring Arab countries, with drones, ballistic missiles and rockets. Iran is also blocking the Strait of Hormuz, a route normally used to transport around a fifth of the world’s oil production and approximately a third of its liquefied natural gas (LNG), driving up oil prices on international markets.