130 nations have signed a United Nations Security Council draft resolution calling for safety and freedom of navigation at the Strait of Hormuz.
By signing the UN push, the UN member states are aiming to protect commercial shipping in the Strait that exports approximately 20% of global oil trade and resolve the fuel crisis affecting nations worldwide.
The resolution also seeks to address Iranian attacks on vessels and disruption in the waterway.
According to the UN, almost 20,000 sailors have been stranded in the Strait since the beginning of the Middle East conflict, resulting in the drafting of the UN resolution text.
Earlier reports by the Al Jazeera indicated that 112 co-sponsors were in support of the draft resolution to solve the global issue on the Strait of Hormuz.
Somalia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) signed on to the draft as co-sponsors as elected members of the councils.
With the recent addition of nations supporting the Bahrain-led United Nations Security Council draft resolution, the draft is now supported by approximately two-thirds of all UN member states.
Unlike the first attempt of the Bahrain-led United Nations Security Council draft resolution that failed in early April due to vetoes by Russia and China despite the acquisition of the 11 votes in favor, the current draft is likely to succeed if it is not vetoed again.
Also Read: Iran Submits 14-Point Peace Plan as Trump Issues Ultimatum Over Nuclear Talks
Nations Backing the UN
Among the nations that backed the UN are Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Manama, and Washington, which served as the principal sponsors.
Further, India, Japan, South Korea, Kenya, Kazakhstan, Senegal, Argentina, and member states of the European Union and Gulf states have also signed on to the draft resolution backing the UN.
Recent additions to the nations backing the UN resolution draft include Somalia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, which signed on May 19 as co-sponsors of the draft resolution.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has, however, warned that despite the push for the freedom and safety in the Strait, no nation should use the Strait as a basis to start a war.
In support of the peaceful reopening of the Strait, Qatar’s Prime Minister, Sheik Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, warned against fighting and urged mediation as an alternative.
Also Read: Democrats Gain Republican Support in Push to End Trump’s Iran War
Iran’s Response to the UN Draft Resolution
The UN draft resolution on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iran, does not recognize the sovereignty of Iran over the Strait and is therefore unacceptable to the Iranians.
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, alleged that the United States was seeking capitulation rather than peace through the draft.
“True peace cannot be built with the language of humiliation, threat, and forced concession-taking,” Kazem Gharibabadi stated on his X account.
Further, the draft resolution demands that Iran disclose the number and location of the sea mines that it has laid and remove them in support of the establishment of a humanitarian corridor.
