Fuel prices will shake. China and Russia block rescue of Strait of Hormuz

During a vote in the UN Security Council on Tuesday, China and Russia vetoed Bahrain's draft resolution on measures to protect commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, Reuters reported.

During the vote on the resolution, 11 members of the Security Council voted in favor of its adoption, two abstained – Pakistan and Colombia, and China and Russia, as permanent members of this institution, vetoed the draft document.

The resolution enjoyed the support of the United States.

As the Times of Israel website recalled, the original draft resolution, tabled by Bahrain, would have authorized states to use “all necessary means.” According to the Israeli website, this would also include military actions to ensure transit through the Strait of Hormuz. However, after opposition from the three veto states on the UN Security Council – Russia, China and France – amendments were introduced to the draft removing all references to offensive actions.

The resolution rejected on Tuesday “strongly encourages states interested in using the trade sea lanes in the Strait of Hormuz to coordinate defensive actions, as appropriate, to ensure the safety of navigation,” reads the draft document, cited by the Times of Israel.

The vote on this document was originally scheduled to take place on Friday, April 3, but was postponed.

As Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid al-Zajani, also speaking on behalf of several countries in the region – Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan – said after the vote, the veto of Russia and China “sends a bad signal to the world” that threats to shipping routes do not trigger “decisive action on the part of the organization responsible for maintaining international peace and security,” AFP reported.

In turn, US ambassador to the UN Michael Waltz called on “responsible” countries to cooperate with Washington to secure the Strait of Hormuz.

The Tehran regime's blocking of the Strait of Hormuz severely hit the global economy and caused shocks in energy markets. This strategically important sea route is the main route for oil exports from Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait and Iraq. In times of peace, 20 percent flows through it. world oil exports. Additionally, Qatar also transports most of its liquefied natural gas through it.

The war in the Middle East began on February 28 with Israeli and US airstrikes on Iran. Tehran responded with attacks on both Israel and Arab states in the Persian Gulf region, including US military bases and civilian facilities there, such as airports and petrochemical installations. (PAP)

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