The Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) on Thursday, April 2, called on the UN Security Council to authorize the use of force to free the Strait of Hormuz, blocked for almost a month, while a resolution on this issue divides member states, reports AFP.
Jasem Al-Budaiwi accused Iran of closing the strait, hindering the transit of commercial ships and oil tankers, and imposing conditions for the passage of some vessels, according to the same agency, quoted by Agerpres.
The statements were made during the first meeting of the Security Council dedicated to cooperation with the GCC, an organization that brings together Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, and Oman.
“We call on the Security Council to assume its responsibilities and take all necessary measures to protect maritime corridors and ensure international navigation under conditions of full security”, Al-Budaiwi conveyed.
The resolution proposed by Bahrain, contested by several veto-wielding powers
The 15 members of the Council have been negotiating for ten days a draft resolution submitted by Bahrain, a document that would allow a state or coalition to use “all necessary means” to restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. However, the text does not meet the necessary consensus.
According to diplomatic sources, Russia, China, and France, all with veto power, have expressed strong objections, despite several revisions of the document. Russia’s representative, Anna Evstigneeva, stated that Moscow wants a “comprehensive” approach, which also addresses the root causes of the crisis, not just the effects.
In turn, French President Emmanuel Macron has assessed that a military operation for the “liberation” of the strait would be “unrealistic”, with major risks and potential for escalation.
Details, HERE