France has drafted a UN Security Council resolution to establish an international mission aimed at restoring movement and navigation freedom in the Strait of Hormuz, officials said today [1, 2]. The resolution may be submitted when conditions are deemed appropriate.
A competing US-Bahraini draft resolution demanding Iran stop attacks and mining in the Strait has been under discussion for more than two weeks. The vote on the US draft has been repeatedly delayed amid threats of vetoes from China and Russia [1, 2]. Both countries vetoed a similar US-backed resolution in April, citing bias against Tehran, and have indicated they may veto the current draft as well [1, 2].
France has so far refused to back the US resolution. Pascal Confavreux, spokesman for France’s Foreign Ministry, said, "There is a draft resolution between the U.S. and Bahrain currently under discussion. This forms the basis of the current discussions. The date for the vote has not yet been announced." He also confirmed, "We are working on an international mission to restore freedom of navigation. We have also prepared, as a permanent member, a draft resolution that could be discussed if the conditions are right." [1]
French President Emmanuel Macron announced plans to seek an initiative at the UN to restore freedom of navigation in the Strait, working in consultation with Washington and Tehran. Macron said Paris aims to support Franco-British efforts to form an international mission once the situation permits [1].
The Strait of Hormuz is a key route for global energy trade. Its partial closure amid the three-month US-Iran conflict has pushed up oil prices and complicated diplomatic talks to end hostilities [1, 2].
The US effort to pass a resolution has secured co-sponsorship from nearly 140 countries as it seeks to avoid a veto [1, 2]. This diplomatic push marks a contrast with recent months when the US has mainly acted outside the UN by carrying out military strikes and encouraging ad hoc naval patrols in the Strait [1, 2].
France first announced the prepared draft resolution on May 21 and has not yet set a date for its potential submission [1, 2]. The US-Bahraini draft has been discussed since early May but remains without a scheduled vote as veto threats loom [1, 2].
