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China and Russia reject UN resolution protecting Hormuz shipping

China and Russia have vetoed the U.N. Resolution encouraging states to coordinate their efforts to 'protect commercial shipping along the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. Ambassador to the world body has called for "responsible countries" to join with the U.S. to secure this vital waterway.

The Security Council, which consists of 15 members, voted in favor of the Bahraini resolution with 11 votes. China and Russia were against and there were two abstentions. Donald Trump, the U.S. president, warned that "a whole civilisation will die tonight", if Iran did not accept his ultimatum by Tuesday evening (Washington time).

The oil prices have risen since the U.S. & Israel attacked Iran at the end February. This has led to a conflict which?has lasted for more than 5 weeks, while Tehran has closed the Strait of Hormuz that used to be the route of about a fifth?of?global liquefied gas and oil. Bahrain's Abdullatif Bin Rashid Al Zayani, Bahrain's foreign minister, said that the draft resolution was not adopted due to a negative vote from a permanent council member.

U.S. AMBASSADOR CONDEMNS VETOES Mike Waltz, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations condemned the Russian and Chinese Vetoes. He said that they marked "a new level" of repression, as the Iranian closure of the Strait prevented medical aid from reaching the humanitarian crises in Gaza, Sudan, and the Congo.

No one should tolerate this. They are holding global economic growth at gunpoint. Today, Russia and China tolerated it. "They sided with a government that is brutalizing its own citizens while trying to intimidate the Gulf. Waltz stated that Iran could "reopen the Strait to seek peace, and make amends."

He said: "But before then, we ask responsible nations to join in protecting the Strait of Hormuz and securing it for?lawful trade, humanitarian goods and free movement of goods around the world."

France regretted the vetoes.

Jerome Bonnafont, its ambassador to the United Nations, said that the goal was to "encourage strict and purely defensive actions to ensure the safety and security of the Strait" without spiraling into escalation.

China and Russia exercised their'vetoes, despite the fact that Bahrain significantly weakened its draft when China refused to authorize force. The draft that was put to a vote did not include any authorization for the use of force. A reference to binding enforcement that was included in an older draft has also been removed. The?text instead strongly encouraged States to "coordinate efforts defensive in nature, commensurate with the circumstances, so as to contribute to ensuring the safety and security of the navigation across the Strait of Hormuz." The text also stated that such contributions may include "the escort of commercial and merchant vessels" and supported efforts "to discourage attempts to close or obstruct international navigation through Strait of Hormuz." Reporting by David Brunnstrom, Editing by Caitlin and Barbara Lewis

(source: Reuters)