China and Russia vetoed a UN Security Council resolution Tuesday that would have encouraged coordinated efforts to protect shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, blocking international action just hours before President Donald Trump's 8 p.m. Eastern deadline for Iran to reopen the strategic waterway.
The vote tallied 11 in favor, two against, and two abstentions from Pakistan and Colombia. The resolution had been repeatedly weakened during negotiations in hopes that Moscow and Beijing would abstain rather than exercise their veto power as permanent Security Council members.
Bahrain, which holds the Security Council's rotating presidency, sponsored the resolution in coordination with Gulf Cooperation Council states. The original proposal would have authorized countries to use "all necessary means" — UN terminology that includes military force — to ensure transit through the strait.
The draft resolution has not been adopted, owing to the negative vote of a permanent member of the Council
Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Bahrain Foreign Minister — Al-Monitor
After opposition from veto-wielding powers, the text was diluted to eliminate references to offensive action and Security Council authorization. The final version merely "strongly encouraged" states to coordinate "defensive" efforts to escort commercial vessels and deter interference with navigation.
Frames the story as a diplomatic crisis with focus on the countdown to Trump's deadline and escalating rhetoric. Emphasizes the international legal framework around war crimes and civilian infrastructure, reflecting France's traditional multilateral approach to conflict resolution.