China, Russia veto UNSC resolution to open Strait of Hormuz

At a vote in the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday, China and Russia vetoed a Bahraini resolution encouraging states to coordinate efforts to protect commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

The 15-member Security Council voted 11 in favour of the resolution, with two against and two abstentions.

"The draft resolution has not been adopted, owing to the negative vote of a permanent member of the council," Bahrain's Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani told the Council.

A draft seen by AFP on Monday no longer mentions authorisation to use force -- even defencively.

The vote comes just hours before Donald Trump's 8 PM (midnight GMT) deadline for Iran to make a deal or face the US military destroying its power plants and bridges.

Bahrain, with the backing of the United States and other oil-exporting Gulf countries, launched negotiations two weeks ago on a draft that would have given a clear UN mandate to any state wishing to use force to unblock the strait.

Read More: Timeline: Developments after Trump’s initial Hormuz deadline to Iran

Iran has imposed an effective blockade on the critical waterway since the United States and Israel launched the war on February 28, sending ripple effects throughout the global economy.

"We cannot accept economic terrorism affecting our region and the world, the whole world is being affected by the developments," Jamal Alrowaiei, Bahrain's ambassador to the UN, said last week.

But objections from several veto-holding permanent members -- including France, Russia and China -- have forced the text to be watered down and the vote delayed multiple times.

French opposition appeared to be lifted by the addition of wording that meant any action would need to be "defencive."

The Security Council adopted a strong resolution against Tehran in mid-March, condemning its blocking of the strait.

UAE ‘deeply regrets the veto

UAE officials at the UN showed “deep regrets” upon the failure of the UN resolution for a framework for international cooperation to stop Iran’s illegal attack on regions installations and to open strait of Hormuz.

The UAE deeply regrets that the UN Security Council failed today to endorse a clear framework for international cooperation in ending Iran’s illegal attacks and threats to the global economy by adopting a draft resolution demanding the immediate cessation of all attacks on… pic.twitter.com/YT5BuEeIkD

— UAE Mission to the UN (@UAEMissionToUN) April 7, 2026

 “The Strait of Hormuz must remain open to all, and the freedom of navigation must be preserved. No country should have the power to shut down the arteries of global commerce and drive the world to the brink of economic calamity,” it said in a statement shared on X.

“The Security Council’s failure to act does not diminish the urgency of this crisis or the UAE’s resolve,” it continued, adding that the UAE would continue to push for international efforts to secure navigation in the strait.

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More to follow.