UNSC Postpones Hormuz Force Vote

The International — United Nations Security Council has postponed a crucial vote on a Bahrain-sponsored draft resolution that would authorize the use of 'defensive' force to protect shipping in the Strait of Hormuz from Iranian attacks. The vote, initially scheduled for Friday, was delayed due to the observance of Good Friday as a UN public holiday, despite this fact being known in advance. No new date has been set. Iran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation for US-Israeli strikes, severely impacting global supplies of Petroleum, Liquefied natural gas, and Fertilizer, and causing sharp rises in energy prices. The draft resolution, supported by the United States, aims to secure transit passage and deter interference with international navigation. However, it faces significant opposition from Russia and China, both veto-wielding members, who view it as one-sided and potentially escalatory. France, while initially skeptical, had its concerns alleviated by revised wording emphasizing the defensive nature of the intervention, though President Emmanuel Macron considers a military operation unrealistic. The delay highlights the deep divisions within the International — United Nations Security Council regarding a response to the ongoing crisis.