UAE calls on UN to approve measures, including use of force, to reopen Strait of Hormuz: Report

Gulf nation cites UN Charter's Chapter 7, which allows use of force against threats to peace

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) called on the UN to authorise measures, including the use of force, to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, Bloomberg said on Wednesday.

The Council must take "immediate action" to ensure safe navigation in and around the strait, Ambassador Mohamed Abushahab said in a letter dated Tuesday to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the Security Council president.

The Gulf nation specifically seeks to invoke Chapter 7 of the UN Charter. This legal framework empowers the council to address threats to international peace through measures ranging from economic blockades to the authorised use of military force.

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The Strait of Hormuz has been effectively disrupted since early March, when Iran moved to throttle the waterway in retaliation for the US-Israeli offensive that began February 28.

Around 20 million barrels of oil, roughly 20% of global supply, normally pass through the strait daily. Its closure has driven up global oil prices, disrupted shipping and raised fears of prolonged economic damage.

The US and Israel have struck Iran since the end of February, killing more than 1,340 people, including then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.