UAE urges UN to approve efforts to reopen Strait of Hormuz, including by force

Istanbul (ANTARA) - The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has called on the United Nations (UN) to approve measures, including the use of military force, to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, Bloomberg reported on Wednesday (1/4). The Security Council must take “immediate action” to ensure the safety of navigation within and around the strait, said Ambassador Mohamed Abushahab in a letter dated Tuesday addressed to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the Security Council president. The Gulf state specifically requested the application of Chapter VII of the UN Charter. This legal framework authorises the council to address threats to international peace through measures ranging from economic blockades to the permitted use of military force. The Strait of Hormuz has been effectively disrupted since early March, when Iran began restricting the route in response to US-Israel attacks that began on 28 February. Around 20 million barrels of oil, approximately 20 per cent of global supply, typically pass through the strait each day. The closure of the strait has driven up global oil prices, disrupted shipments, and triggered concerns over prolonged economic damage. Meanwhile, the United States and Israel have launched attacks against Iran since late February, killing more than 1,340 people, including the then Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei.