TEHRAN – Russia and China on Tuesday vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution calling for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, hours before the deadline the United States imposed on Iran to allow passage or face attacks on its infrastructure. The significantly watered-down bill was passed with 11 votes in favor, two against, and two abstentions, removing language authorizing aggressive actions and limiting it to “necessary defensive measures” to secure navigation. Even in its weakened form, the resolution was blocked by Russia and China, underscoring growing opposition in the United States and Israel to Iranian aggression.
Iran has repeatedly emphasized that the Strait of Hormuz remains under its sovereign control. The Iranian government allows commercial vessels from friendly or non-hostile countries to transit with approval, but excludes vessels it deems hostile or aligned with U.S. and Israeli interests.
President Donald Trump had threatened attacks on power plants and bridges and set a deadline of 8pm ET for Iran to meet. Iran vowed to respond harshly and decisively to such attacks, stressing that targeting civilian infrastructure would be an act of blatant aggression. The Iranian government asserted that any navigation through the strait must respect Iran’s sovereignty and security, reaffirming its determination to protect the nation and its strategic waterway.