Russia and China vetoed a UN resolution supporting defense against Iran's actions in the Strait of Hormuz, despite significant revisions.
Russia and China vetoed a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) draft resolution aimed at supporting defense against Iran's attacks in the Strait of Hormuz. It is noteworthy that the resolution was not accepted despite being significantly softened compared to the original text.
Following the veto decision, the Iranian delegation thanked Russia and China for their 'responsible stance.'
Bahrain, which is holding the UNSC presidency, along with other Gulf countries, argued that the UN should allow the use of force to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. In this context, it was aimed to establish a coalition of naval forces to overcome Iran's control over the strait.
However, early opposition signals to the draft came from the permanent members of the UNSC, namely Russia, China, and France.
The countries that prepared the draft made significant changes to increase the likelihood of acceptance. Firstly, the phrase 'all necessary means' used by the UN for military interventions was removed.
In the revised text, the phrase 'all necessary defense means' was included instead. At a later stage, this phrase was further softened, calling for a 'strong encouragement' for countries to take measures such as escorting ships and deterring threats.
Despite all these changes, the draft continued to condemn Iran's attacks on ships and the restrictions it imposed on freedom of navigation.
The compromise text was still deemed unacceptable for Russia and China, which are close to Iran. Both countries rejected the draft by vetoing it. It was noteworthy that Moscow and Beijing, which had previously abstained on a similar draft, used a direct veto this time.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE), which strongly supported the draft, expressed 'deep sorrow' following the outcome.
In a statement from the UAE's representation at the UN, it was said, 'The Security Council's inaction does not diminish the urgency of this crisis. We will continue to support international efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and take coordinated steps with our partners to ensure safe navigation.'
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
