Russia and China Veto UN Resolution to Reopen Strait of Hormuz

The United Nations Security Council failed to adopt a Bahrain-led resolution on April 7, 2026, aimed at restoring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. The waterway had been effectively blockaded by Iran following military attacks by the United States and Israel in late February. While 11 nations voted in favor, including the U.S., the measure was vetoed by Russia and China, who argued the text ignored the root causes of the conflict and provided a legal veneer for further aggression.

President Donald Trump initially set a deadline for the strait's reopening, threatening that a whole civilization would die if Iran did not comply. However, shortly before the deadline, the U.S. agreed to a two-week ceasefire brokered by Pakistan. Under the agreement, the strait remains under Iranian military management, and bilateral talks between the U.S. and Iran were scheduled to begin in Islamabad.

Despite the ceasefire, tensions remain high. U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz accused the vetoing powers of shielding a regime that holds the global economy hostage. Meanwhile, China and Russia circulated an alternative resolution focused on de-escalation. The blockade has caused significant global economic disruption, including a 40% surge in oil prices and widespread shortages of food and fertilizer. On April 16, the UN General Assembly debated the impasse as Gulf states pledged to draft a new, consultative resolution.