US and Gulf States Push UN Resolution Over Iran's Strait Blockade

The United States, supported by Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Kuwait, has drafted a United Nations Security Council resolution demanding that Iran cease attacks on merchant shipping and stop imposing illegal tolls in the Strait of Hormuz. The resolution requires Iran to disclose the locations of sea mines and facilitate a humanitarian corridor for essential goods like fertilizer to prevent global food shortages. U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz described freedom of navigation as a "cornerstone of worldwide stability and commerce."

This diplomatic push follows a broader escalation that began in February 2026 with U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran. In response, Iran has obstructed maritime traffic and created the Persian Gulf Straits Authority to exact tolls. The U.S. Navy established a maritime blockade on April 13 and launched the "Freedom Project" to escort commercial ships. While the U.S. recently paused Project Freedom and extended a ceasefire, it maintains its blockade.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani rejected the resolution as "deeply flawed, one-sided, and politically motivated," asserting that navigation will only normalize if the war ends and the U.S. blockade is lifted. Russia and China have repeatedly signaled they will veto the measure, arguing it ignores the root causes of the crisis. To avoid a certain veto, the U.S. removed a clause invoking Chapter VII of the UN Charter, which would have explicitly authorized sanctions or military force, though diplomats suggest a veto remains likely.