EditUN Security Council delays vote on Hormuz after France joins Russia and China in opposition
While the UNSC remains deadlocked, selective transits suggest Iran retains the ability to modulate access - and is prepared to reward restraint from key players
The UN Security Council has postponed a vote on a Bahrain-sponsored resolution aimed at protecting commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, after France joined Russia and China in blocking language that would have authorized the use of force.
The draft, initially pushed by Bahrain as this month’s council president and backed by other Gulf Arab states and the United States, sought to give member states – acting individually or in multinational coalitions – the right to take “all necessary means” to secure safe passage through the vital waterway. Iran has effectively restricted access to the strait since late February following U.S.-Israeli strikes, disrupting roughly one-fifth of global oil and LNG flows.
After weeks of closed-door negotiations and multiple revisions, the text was significantly watered down. References to Chapter VII enforcement powers and offensive military action were removed, shifting the focus to “defensive measures” only. Even the revised version faced resistance. Russia, China and France – all permanent members with veto power – broke the “silence procedure” that would have allowed quick adoption, forcing further delays.
China’s UN envoy explicitly warned that authorizing force would risk further escalation. France, while advising Bahrain on revisions and appearing more open to a limited defensive text than Moscow or Beijing, still opposed the stronger original language. A vote originally planned for Friday – later shifted to Saturday – has now been pushed to next week, with no new date confirmed.
The impasse underscores deep divisions among the Security Council’s permanent members over how to respond to Iran’s control of the chokepoint. Gulf states and Washington have pressed for robust action to restore energy flows, while Russia and China – traditional allies of Iran – have criticized the draft as one-sided and escalatory. France’s position reflects a broader European preference for de-escalation through diplomacy.
French-owned vessel transits Hormuz hours after Macron’s remarks
In a development that appeared timed to highlight diplomatic nuances, a French-owned container ship became one of the first Western-linked vessels to successfully transit the Strait of Hormuz since the waterway was largely closed.
The Malta-flagged CMA CGM Kribi, operated by France’s CMA CGM group, crossed the strait on 2 April. Ship-tracking data showed it broadcasting “Owner France” on its Automatic Identification System as it followed an Iran-approved corridor hugging the Iranian coastline between Qeshm and Larak islands. It exited without incident and was later reported off Muscat.
It marked the first known transit by a vessel tied to Western Europe since the conflict began. CMA CGM is understood to have coordinated the passage directly with Iranian maritime authorities. A Japanese-owned ship and a handful of others linked to “friendly” nations have also been permitted through in recent days, while most international traffic remains deterred.
The crossing came just hours or a day after French President Emmanuel Macron publicly declared that a military operation to reopen the strait would be “unrealistic.” Speaking during a visit to South Korea on 2 April, Macron rejected the idea of using force – a position sometimes floated by the United States – and called instead for dialogue and cooperation with Iran.
Analysts and media outlets have noted the optics: Iran appears to be selectively granting safe passage to nations pursuing a softer diplomatic line, while continuing to threaten vessels linked to the U.S. or Israel. Tehran has maintained that the strait remains open but has imposed what some shipping observers describe as a de facto toll system for approved traffic.
With energy prices still volatile and global supply chains strained, diplomats say behind-the-scenes efforts for a negotiated reopening continue.
With Reuters and the New York Times.
Caption: The Indian-flagged carrier Jag Vasant, carrying liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) via the Strait of Hormuz, arrives at Mumbai Port in Mumbai, India, 1 April 2026. Stalled shipments from the Gulf, driven by escalating Middle East conflicts, are causing widespread LPG supply disruptions across the country. EPA/DIVYAKANT SOLANKI
Updated: April 4, 2026 - 10:51
