UNITED NATIONS (AP) 鈥� Bahrain has a proposed U.N. resolution on reopening the amid opposition from China and Russia about allowing countries to use force to Iran has largely cut off to global shipping.
The final draft of the proposal, obtained Thursday by The Associated Press, authorizes defensive 鈥� but not offensive 鈥� action to ensure vessels can safely transit the strait. One-fifth of the world鈥檚 oil typically passes through the waterway, where has sent .
Bahrain鈥檚 initial draft would have allowed countries 鈥渢o use all necessary means鈥� 鈥� U.N. language that would include possible military action 鈥� 鈥渋n the Strait of Hormuz, the Gulf and the Gulf of Oman鈥� to secure passage and deter attempts to interfere with navigation.
Russia, China and France, all veto-wielding countries on the 15-member Security Council, had expressed opposition to approving the use of force. The final draft eliminates any reference to allowing offensive military action.
The Security Council originally scheduled a vote on the resolution for Friday, which is a U.N. holiday for Good Friday. But it later canceled that meeting, and U.N. diplomats, who spoke on condition of anonymity to preview the new timing before it has been announced, said the vote was now expected to be held Saturday.
The three countries鈥� views on the changes are not known, so the vote will be closely watched, and the delay will give diplomats more time to avoid a veto.
The proposal now authorizes countries 鈥渢o use all defensive means necessary and commensurate with the circumstances in the Strait of Hormuz and adjacent waters鈥� to and deter attempts to interfere with international navigation 鈥渇or a period of at least six months.鈥�
It says countries acting alone on in 鈥渕ultinational naval partnerships鈥� can take defensive means provided advance notification is given to the Security Council.
It comes after U.S. President Donald Wednesday that America and Israel will continue to bomb Iran 鈥渆xtremely hard鈥� over the next two to three weeks but . Iran has kept up retailatory attacks in the region and its chokehold on for Trump and the world as rising energy prices .
Before Bahrain released its final draft, Russia鈥檚 U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said the proposal 鈥渄oes not solve the puzzle.鈥� He said what would do so is ending the hostilities.
China鈥檚 U.N. Ambassador Fu Cong opposed the original draft鈥檚 authorization for the use of force, calling it 鈥渦nlawful and indiscriminate.鈥� Speaking to the council earlier Thursday, he warned that it 鈥渨ould inevitably lead to further escalation of the situation and lead to serious consequences.鈥� He urged the council 鈥渢o proceed with caution鈥� and actively work for de-escalation and dialogue.
France鈥檚 U.N. Ambassador J茅r么me Bonnafont also called for de-escalation, telling the council that 鈥渄efensive measures that avoid any broad use of force need to be promoted.鈥� He later indicated that the new draft focusing on defense might be acceptable.
The on March 11 condemning Iran鈥檚 鈥渆gregious attacks鈥� on Gulf nations and called for Tehran to immediately halt its strikes, which followed the U.S. and Israel launching the war on Feb. 28.
That resolution, adopted by a vote of 13-0 with Russia and China abstaining, also condemned Iran鈥檚 actions in the Strait of Hormuz as a threat to international peace and security and called for an immediate end to all actions blocking shipping.
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Associated Press writer Farnoush Amiri contributed to this report.
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