Russia, China veto UN Security Council resolution on Strait of Hormuz
NEW YORK, the UN. April 7 (Interfax) - The UN Security Council voted against a draft resolution authorizing action to unblock the Strait of Hormuz, specifically, Russia and China voted against it.
"Russia could not support a text that would create a dangerous precedent for international law, international maritime law, any peace efforts, and the authority of the UN Security Council," Russian Permanent Representative to the UN Vasily Nebenzya said at a UN Security Council meeting.
Moscow respects "the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries in the region, including the Islamic Republic of Iran and other Persian Gulf states," he said.
"We view attacks on their civilians and civilian infrastructure as unacceptable," Nebenzya said.
The draft resolution called on nations to coordinate defensive efforts "proportionate to the circumstances" to ensure the safety of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Specifically, it addressed the escort of merchant vessels.
The draft resolution underwent several revisions before being put to a vote. The previous version of the document stipulated that Security Council members, individually or in coalition, could use "all necessary defensive measures proportionate to the circumstances" in the Strait of Hormuz, including the territorial waters of Oman and Iran, as well as in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz and prevent attempts to block it.
An even earlier version of the resolution invoked Chapter VII of the UN Charter (Action with respect to threats to the peace, breaches of the peace, and acts of aggression). Thus, the resolution would have authorized the use of force to unblock the strait. However, this provision was dropped due to concerns that permanent members of the Security Council, particularly Russia and China, would veto it.
The vote on the draft resolution was initially scheduled for Thursday of last week. It was later postponed to Friday, and then to an even later date.
Media outlets cited some Security Council member states' disagreement with the draft resolution as one of the reasons for the postponement. The New York Times, citing sources, reported that several council members, including Russia, China and France, opposed any wording authorizing the use of force.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also spoke about the draft resolution on Friday. He said that its adoption could disrupt negotiations on a settlement in Iran or legitimize military action against Iran.
