New York, April 7 (SANA) – Russia and China used their veto power Tuesday to block a UN Security Council draft resolution calling for reopening the Strait of Hormuz and ensuring freedom of navigation in the Gulf.
The draft resolution, submitted by Bahrain on behalf of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait and Jordan, received the support of 11 of the Council’s 15 members, while Pakistan and Colombia abstained. However, the Russian and Chinese veto prevented its adoption.
Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif Al-Zayani said after the vote that the failure to adopt the resolution sends the wrong message that threats to international navigation could pass without a firm response. He stressed that the proposal aimed to ensure maritime routes are not used as tools of pressure or coercion.
For his part, the U.S. representative to the United Nations Michael Waltz said Washington stands with Bahrain and Gulf states in efforts to safeguard maritime security, criticizing the veto by Russia and China. He accused Iran of escalating tensions and targeting commercial vessels and U.S. interests in the region.
European representatives also warned that any disruption to navigation through the Strait of Hormuz could have serious consequences for the global economy and energy supplies.
Russia’s envoy Vasily Nebenzya said Moscow rejected the draft because it lacked balance and ignored what he described as the root causes of the crisis, including U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran. China’s representative Fu Cong likewise said the proposal contained one-sided condemnation and that the situation should instead be addressed through dialogue.
Pakistan’s representative Asim Iftikhar Ahmad called for restoring normal navigation through the Strait while urging diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions. Meanwhile, Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations Amir Saeid Iravani described the draft resolution as biased and misleading regarding the causes of the crisis.
The crisis surrounding the Strait of Hormuz has escalated since the outbreak of the U.S.–Israeli–Iranian war on February 28, raising international concern over global energy security and maritime trade routes.
Kh.A
