April 7 United Nations Security Council resolution on the Strait of Hormuz - China and Russia exercised their vetoes

The core content consists of three main points:

First, no authorization for military action. The initial version promoted by Bahrain intended to give countries stronger authorization, even including phrases like “all necessary means” that could imply military actions. However, after opposition from China, Russia, France, and others, the text was weakened through several rounds of revisions, ultimately removing any explicit authorization for the use of force.

Second, the final version mainly “encourages defensive coordination.” The Security Council draft ultimately transformed into a strong encouragement for countries using the commercial shipping lanes of the Strait of Hormuz to carry out coordination actions that are proportionate to the situation and of a defensive nature, to ensure maritime safety in the strait.

Examples include providing escorts for merchant vessels and commercial ships, as well as deterring actions that close, block, or interfere with international navigation. The draft also demands that Iran immediately stop attacking merchant ships, halt interference with the freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, and cease attacks on civilian infrastructure.

Third, the result is that it did not pass. During the vote on April 7, this resolution received 11 votes in favor, 2 against, and 2 abstentions, but because Russia and China vetoed it, the Security Council was unable to adopt the resolution.

Out of the 15 members of the Security Council, 11 voted in favor, while Pakistan and Colombia abstained. Therefore, with these 11 votes, it could have received the minimum 9 votes needed for passage. However, China and Russia, as the two permanent members of the Security Council with veto power, decided to exercise their vetoes, rejecting the resolution.

This resolution initially requested the inclusion of Article 7, which would authorize member states to use force to clear the Strait of Hormuz. Russia and China strongly opposed this. Because of this, negotiations lasted so long, and the final text of the resolution was amended.

In the end, the version voted on today strongly encourages countries intending to utilize the Strait of Hormuz to conduct commercial maritime routes to coordinate actions in a defensive manner. This is entirely different from the use of force.

Bahrain hoped this would be enough to get Russia and China to at least abstain, thus allowing the resolution to pass.

There are significant divisions within the Security Council, and Russia and China’s exercise of their veto seems to indicate that the two countries support Iran and will use their veto power to back Iran when necessary. Both Russia and China have stated that the resolution's condemnation of Iran is overly strong.

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