The UN Security Council votes Tuesday on a significantly weakened resolution calling for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, abandoning Gulf states' original goal of securing authorization to use force against Iran's blockade.
The vote, scheduled for 11:00 AM Eastern, comes hours before President Donald Trump's 8:00 PM deadline for Iran to reach a deal or face US military strikes on power plants and bridges.
Bahrain, backed by the United States and Gulf oil exporters, initially sought a resolution authorizing "all defensive means necessary" to protect commercial shipping. Multiple revisions have stripped away explicit force authorization after opposition from China, Russia, and France.
We cannot accept economic terrorism affecting our region and the world, the whole world is being affected by the developments
Jamal Alrowaiei, Bahrain's UN Ambassador — RFI
The latest draft merely "strongly encourages" states to coordinate defensive efforts and escort merchant vessels through the strait. It demands Iran "immediately cease all attacks against merchant and commercial vessels" but provides no enforcement mechanism.
RFI frames the story through multilateral diplomacy, emphasizing France's role in moderating the resolution by insisting on defensive language. The outlet presents France as a responsible mediator seeking to prevent military escalation while supporting legitimate navigation rights.