A proposed United Nations (UN) Security Council resolution threatens Iran with sanctions or other measures if the country does not cease attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz, stops imposing “illegal tolls” and discloses the location of all mines, in order to permit freedom of navigation.
The Security Council draft resolution, co-sponsored by the United States and Gulf countries, was obtained on Tuesday, the 5th, by the Associated Press. The proposal requires that Iran “participate immediately and facilitate” United Nations efforts to establish a humanitarian corridor in the strait, in order to allow the delivery of vital aid, fertilizers and other goods.
This is the latest diplomatic effort by the United States and its Gulf allies, after a resolution aimed at opening the strait was vetoed by China and Russia in early April.
On Tuesday, the U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, accused Iran of continuing “holding the world economy hostage” by trying to close the strait, threatening to attack ships, deploy sea mines and attempt to collect tolls “through the world’s most important navigable route”.
“The United States expects that this resolution will be voted on in the coming days and that it will receive the support of Security Council members and a broad base of co-sponsors,” said Rubio.
The U.S. ambassador to the UN, Mike Waltz, told reporters on Monday that he believes that the new, more restrictive proposal will garner the necessary support to be approved by the Security Council, which has 15 members, without generating opposition or a veto from Iran’s allies.
The resolution — drafted under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter and therefore subject to military enforcement — threatened with “effective measures proportional to the gravity of the situation, including sanctions,” if Iran does not meet the demands. The previous resolution had removed the reference to Chapter VII, but it was vetoed nonetheless.
The new draft reaffirms the right of all countries to defend their ships against attacks and provocations and determines that other States should not assist Iran in closing the strait or in levying tolls.
