Bahrain's effort to secure a U.N. resolution to authorise all necessary means to protect commercial shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz has hit new obstacles, underscoring divisions over how to deal with Iran's effective closure of the waterway that has resulted in the worst energy-supply disruption ever.
The Bahraini draft resolution dropped a previous explicit reference to binding enforcement, hoping to overcome objections from other nations, particularly Russia and China, but still requires a lot of work according to U.N. Ambassador Jamal Fares Alrowaiei.
Major Gulf and Western powers still do not have a concrete plan to reopen the waterway, which has been effectively shut since the conflict began a month ago, sending energy prices soaring, with roughly one-fifth of the world's oil and gas normally transiting the crucial strait.
The absence of a clear plan to reopen the waterway is a major concern for global energy markets, which are facing their worst disruption in decades.
A U.S. President Donald Trump had vowed to use naval forces to escort shipping vessels through the strait, but has since said the U.S. does not need to be part of that effort, and that others, particularly NATO allies in Europe, should do the work to reopen the strait.
Shippers stopped using the strait after Iran struck vessels in retaliation against strikes by the United States and Israel that kicked off the war on February 28, highlighting the risks faced by commercial shipping in the region.
The failure of a UN resolution highlights the challenges in finding a consensus among major world powers when dealing with sensitive issues like this one, which requires careful consideration of competing interests and security concerns.
A revised text seen by Reuters removed the Chapter VII reference but retained strong language effectively authorizing force in the Strait of Hormuz, the Gulf and the Gulf of Oman to ensure passage and prevent interference with international navigation.
The U.N. Security Council's inability to secure a resolution on this issue underscores the need for diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict peacefully and find a solution that balances competing interests and security concerns.
The failure of a UN resolution on securing shipping in the Strait of Hormuz highlights the challenges in finding a consensus among major world powers.
