Russia and China Veto UN Resolution to Reopen the Strait of Hormuz
The Security Council voted 11-2 to demand Iran stop blocking commercial shipping, but Russian and Chinese vetoes killed the measure hours before Trump's military deadline.
The UN Security Council voted 11-2 on April 7 to demand Iran immediately cease attacks on commercial vessels and stop obstructing navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. Russia and China vetoed the resolution, calling it "one-sided" and "too escalatory." The diplomatic failure came hours before President Trump's 8 PM ET deadline for Iran to reopen the strait or face strikes on power plants and bridges.
The vote
| Position | Countries |
|---|---|
| For (11) | United States, France, United Kingdom, Bahrain, Denmark, Greece, Latvia, Liberia, Panama, Somalia, DR Congo |
| Against (2) | Russia, China |
| Abstained (2) | Colombia, Pakistan |
The draft, sponsored by Bahrain, needed 9 votes in favor and no vetoes from the five permanent members to pass. It received 11 votes in favor but was killed by the dual veto.
What the resolution demanded
The resolution "strongly encouraged" member states to coordinate defensive efforts to ensure freedom of navigation, including vessel escort operations. It demanded Iran "immediately cease all attacks against merchant and commercial vessels" and reaffirmed the rights of member states to defend their vessels under international law and UNCLOS. It also called for cessation of attacks on civilian infrastructure including water systems, desalination plants, and oil installations, with mandatory Secretary-General reports every 30 days.
This was already a scaled-back version. A prior resolution, S/RES/2817, passed 13-0 on March 11 condemning Iran's attacks on its neighbors. Russia and China abstained on that vote rather than vetoing. The April 7 draft went further by authorizing coordinated naval escorts.
What Russia and China said
Russian Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya called the resolution "unbalanced, inaccurate and confrontational" for framing Iran as the sole source of destabilization. "The adoption of such a one-sided resolution would undermine any prospect for resumption of negotiations," he said.
China described the resolution as failing to capture "the need for impartial and consistent diplomacy" and blamed the United States and Israel for starting the war, saying the priority should be ending military operations immediately.
What the US and UK said
National Security Advisor Mike Waltz said: "I commend Bahrain and everyone who voted with this resolution for saying enough is enough."
The UK issued a statement titled "It is deeply regrettable that this resolution did not pass."
The strait right now
Iran has maintained a selective blockade since March 27, when the IRGC announced closure to vessels traveling to or from US, Israeli, and allied ports. The strait is not fully closed. Ships from Pakistan, India, Thailand, Russia, Turkey, China, Iraq, and Malaysia have transited under a de facto system negotiated with Tehran.
But traffic is down over 90% from normal levels: 53 transits last week versus hundreds in a typical week. Brent crude has hit $126 per barrel at its peak. Iran and Oman are drafting a joint protocol to coordinate remaining transit.
The timeline
The vote happened the same morning the US conducted its second round of strikes on Kharg Island, Iran's main oil export terminal handling roughly 90% of the country's crude exports. Those strikes targeted military installations, not oil facilities directly.
Trump set an 8 PM ET deadline for Iran to reopen the strait. The IRGC warned it would "deprive the US and its allies of the region's oil and gas for years" if he followed through. The UN vote was the diplomatic track. It collapsed hours before the military one.