Russia Rejects Hormuz Strait Resolution, Prepares Alternative Draft with China

Russia vetoed a draft resolution of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) regarding the Strait of Hormuz, submitted by several Middle Eastern countries on Tuesday (7/4). Moscow assessed the draft as potentially worsening the escalation of conflict by providing legitimacy to aggressive actions against Iran. Russia’s Ambassador to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia, firmly expressed rejection of the resolution led by Bahrain along with Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia. He described the proposal as containing an inappropriate and dangerous approach. According to Nebenzia, Russia’s partners have stepped far beyond acceptable limits by proposing an approach he deemed misguided regarding the regional situation. "Fundamentally, almost every paragraph of the draft they proposed is filled with unbalanced, inaccurate, and confrontational elements," Nebenzia stated, as quoted by Anadolu on Wednesday (8/4). He also assessed that the draft presented a one-sided narrative by positioning Iran as the sole party responsible for the rising tensions in the region, without mentioning the role of other parties. Nebenzia emphasised that the document portrayed Iran’s actions as the only source of destabilising activities and regional tensions, while not mentioning the illegal attacks by the US and Israel targeting Iranian territory. Furthermore, Russia criticised the content of the resolution, which it deemed to ignore important geographical aspects related to the Strait of Hormuz. Nebenzia assessed that there was a deliberate omission of the fact that most of the Strait of Hormuz lies within Iran’s territorial waters. He warned that the draft resolution could create a dangerous precedent in international law, including maritime law, and could undermine global efforts to maintain peace. Moreover, Nebenzia reaffirmed Russia’s consistent position opposing military actions against Iran. He stated that Russia condemns the aggression by the United States and Israel against Iran and rejects attacks targeting their civilians and civilian infrastructure. After exercising its veto right, Russia along with China announced that it is preparing an alternative draft resolution. The proposal is said to prioritise principles of balance and compliance with international law. Nebenzia stated that the alternative draft would be concise, fair, and balanced in accordance with the principles of international law and the United Nations Charter, particularly regarding the peaceful settlement of disputes, and would soon be submitted for a vote. This move by Russia once again underscores the sharp differences among UN Security Council members in responding to the escalation of conflict in the Middle East region, particularly regarding the situation around the Strait of Hormuz.