Russia and China have vetoed a UN Security Council resolution on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a vital maritime chokepoint through which a fifth of the global oil passes.
The 15-nation UN Security Council voted on the resolution proposed by Bahrain, which got 11 votes in favour, two against and two abstentions. The resolution could not be adopted because veto-wielding permanent members Russia and China voted against the resolution.
The resolution, introduced by Bahrain, failed despite securing 11 votes in favour, with Pakistan and Colombia abstaining. The vote came just hours before a deadline set by US president Donald Trump for Iran to reopen the strait or face sweeping attacks on its infrastructure.
“Failing to adopt this resolution sends the wrong signal to the world, to the people of the world,” Bahrain’s foreign minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani said, warning that inaction risked undermining efforts to safeguard global waterways.