Russia and China blocked a United Nations Security Council resolution on Monday aimed at protecting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, exposing deep divisions within the international community over the Iran crisis and effectively leaving Tehran's control over the strategic waterway unchallenged by international law.
The veto, reported by Reuters, came as the U.S. and its allies sought to establish a legal framework for reopening the strait following Iran's implementation of what it termed an "inspection regime" for vessels transiting the narrow passage through which roughly 20% of global oil supplies flow daily.
The resolution, sponsored by the United States, the United Kingdom, and France, would have declared Iran's restrictions on free passage a violation of international maritime law and authorized member states to take "necessary measures" to ensure freedom of navigation.
To understand today's headlines, we must look at yesterday's decisions. The Strait of Hormuz has been a geopolitical flashpoint for decades, with Iran periodically threatening to close the waterway during periods of international tension. The current crisis marks the first time Tehran has successfully asserted de facto control over maritime traffic through the strait.
China's ambassador to the UN, Zhang Jun, argued that the resolution represented and would echoed these concerns, with its deputy ambassador characterizing the measure as
