The UN Security Council is to vote on a Bahraini resolution to protect commercial shipping in and around the\u00a0Strait of Hormuz, diplomats said on Friday, but veto-wielding China made clear its opposition to authorising any use of force.<\/p>\n
Two diplomats said the meeting of the Council’s 15 members and the vote were set for Saturday morning, rather than Friday as earlier planned. Friday is a UN holiday.<\/p>\n
Oil prices have surged since the United States and Israel struck Iran at the end of February, unleashing a conflict that has run for more than a month and effectively closed the key shipping artery.<\/p>\n
Diplomats said Bahrain, the current chair of the Security Council, finalised a draft resolution seen by\u00a0Reuters\u00a0that would authorise “all defensive means necessary” to protect commercial shipping.<\/p>\n
Earlier on Thursday, Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani told the council that a vote would be held on Friday, “God willing”, adding that Bahrain looked forward to a “unified position from this esteemed council.”<\/p>\n
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Bahrain, backed in its efforts to secure a resolution by other Gulf Arab states and Washington, had previously dropped an explicit reference to binding enforcement in a bid to overcome objections from other nations, particularly\u00a0Russia and China.<\/p>\n
The draft seen by Reuters authorises the measures “for a period of at least six months … and until the council decides otherwise.” However, in remarks to the Security Council on Thursday morning, China’s UN envoy Fu Cong opposed authorising force.<\/p>\n
Such a move would be “legitimising the unlawful and indiscriminate use of force, which would inevitably lead to further escalation of the situation and lead to serious consequences,” he added.<\/p>\n
A fourth draft of the resolution was put under a so-called silence procedure for approval until Thursday noon (1600 GMT), but a Western diplomatic source said the silence had been broken by China, France and Russia.<\/p>\n
Diplomats said a text had subsequently been finalised, or “put in blue,” which means a vote can take place.<\/p>\n
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A Security Council resolution requires at least nine votes in favour and no vetoes from the five permanent members, Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States.<\/p>\n
Al Zayani said Iran’s “unlawful and unjustified attempt” to control international navigation in the Strait of Hormuz threatened global interests and required a “decisive response.”<\/p>\n
The secretary-general of the 22-member League of Arab States, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, told the Security Council it backed Bahrain’s efforts to secure a resolution.<\/p>\n
On Thursday,\u00a0Britain\u00a0hosted a meeting with more than 40 countries on efforts to reopen and ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz and also expressed support for Bahrain’s move to secure a resolution on the issue.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump vowed to continue attacks, but did not\u00a0lay out a plan\u00a0to reopen the strait.<\/p>\n
That drove oil prices\u00a0even higher, by fuelling concern that the United States might not take a major role in ensuring safe passage for shippers through the waterway.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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