The UN Security Council is set to vote on Tuesday on a revised and significantly softened resolution aimed at protecting commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, according to Ship & Bunker. The vote was originally scheduled for last Friday before being postponed, and is now expected to take place ahead of a deadline established by US President Donald Trump to reopen the strategically vital waterway.
A Narrowed Scope
The draft resolution, submitted by Bahrain and supported by Gulf states including the UAE, establishes that no single nation may close or exercise control over the Strait of Hormuz. However, the language has been considerably diluted from its original form.
As reported by Ship & Bunker — citing Reuters — the current version centres on “defensive” measures, such as coordination between nations and the potential use of naval escorts for commercial vessels transiting the strait. Crucially, any explicit mention of the use of force has been removed from the final draft.
Pushback from Permanent Members
Bahrain had initially championed more assertive enforcement mechanisms under the UN framework, but the text was scaled back in order to build sufficient support across the council. According to Reuters, both China and Russia objected to stronger enforcement language, with Beijing cautioning that authorising the use of force risked inflaming an already tense situation.
Path to Adoption
For the resolution to pass, it must receive a minimum of nine votes in favour and avoid a veto from any of the five permanent Security Council members — the United States, Russia, China, the United Kingdom, and France — as Ship & Bunker reports.
Gulf Bunkering does not provide operational or security guidance. This article is for informational purposes only. Operators should consult flag state authorities, P&I clubs, and relevant advisories for decisions relating to transit planning.
Sources: Ship & Bunker (citing Reuters)
