A view of Iranian-flagged cargo ship Touska as USS Spruance (DDG 111) conduts its interception in a location given as the north Arabian Sea, in this screen capture from a video released April 19, 2026. CENTCOM\/Handout via REUTERS<\/p>\n
U.N. Weighs Hormuz Sanctions as U.S. Pushes Resolution That Could Open Door to Force<\/p>\n
PARIS, May 5 (Reuters)\u00a0\u2013\u00a0U.N. Security Council members will begin talks on Tuesday on a U.S.-\u00a0and\u00a0Bahrain- backed draft resolution that could lead to sanctions against Iran,\u00a0and\u00a0potentially authorize force, if Tehran fails to halt attacks\u00a0and\u00a0threats to commercial shipping in the<\/p>\n
, three Western diplomats said.<\/p>\n
Fresh\u00a0exchanges of fire\u00a0on Monday underscored the stakes as the U.S.\u00a0and\u00a0Iran struggle for control of the narrow waterway, a vital artery for global energy\u00a0and\u00a0trade, shaking a fragile four-week-old truce\u00a0and\u00a0reinforcing rival maritime blockades.<\/p>\n
The U.S. diplomatic push at the United Nations is in stark contrast to recent months during which it has largely acted outside the U.N. framework, launching military strikes against Iran without seeking council authorisation\u00a0and\u00a0pressing allies to join ad hoc naval patrols to enforce freedom of navigation.<\/p>\n
That approach drew resistance from partners wary of open?ended conflict\u00a0and\u00a0legal exposure, prompting sharp criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump against countries he accused of failing to align with U.S.-led efforts.<\/p>\n
Monday\u2019s escalation, in which the U.S. said it destroyed six Iranian small boats\u00a0and\u00a0Iranian missiles hit a UAE oil port, followed Washington\u2019s launch of \u201cProject Freedom,\u201d a U.S. led effort to move stranded tankers\u00a0and\u00a0other vessels through Hormuz.<\/p>\n
Against that backdrop, the draft resolution forms part of what the diplomats described as a strategy to pressure Iran diplomatically\u00a0and\u00a0plan for a post-conflict situation.<\/p>\n
Washington has also circulated a proposal, seen by Reuters, to partners for a new multinational maritime coalition, the\u00a0Maritime Freedom Construct (MFC), aimed at establishing a post-conflict security architecture for the Middle East\u00a0and\u00a0reopening the Strait once conditions stabilize.<\/p>\n
RESOLUTION COULD AUTHORISE SANCTIONS, FORCE<\/p>\n
An earlier\u00a0Bahraini\u00a0resolution that was backed by the United States\u00a0and\u00a0appeared to open a path to legitimize its military action against Iran failed after Russia\u00a0and\u00a0China blocked it.<\/p>\n
The new draft takes a more cautious\u00a0approach, avoiding explicit language authorizing force while still operating under Chapter VII of the U.N. Charter, which allows the Security Council to impose measures ranging from sanctions to military action.<\/p>\n
It condemns Iran\u2019s alleged violations of the ceasefire\u00a0and\u00a0its \u201ccontinuing actions\u00a0and\u00a0threats aimed at closing, obstructing, tolling, or otherwise interfering with the lawful exercise of navigational rights\u00a0and\u00a0freedoms through the Strait of Hormuz,\u201d including the laying of sea mines.<\/p>\n
It describes those actions as a threat to international peace\u00a0and\u00a0security\u00a0and\u00a0demands Iran immediately cease attacks, disclose the locations of any mines\u00a0and\u00a0not impede clearance operations.<\/p>\n
The text also calls on Tehran to cooperate with U.N. efforts to establish a humanitarian corridor through the Strait, citing the disruption of aid deliveries, fertilizer shipments\u00a0and\u00a0other essential goods.<\/p>\n
The U.N. secretary general would report back within 30 days on compliance with the measures. The Security Council would reconvene to consider additional steps, including possible sanctions, if Iran failed to implement the resolution.<\/p>\n
Diplomats said Washington hopes to close negotiations quickly, with the aim of circulating a final draft by May 8\u00a0and\u00a0holding a vote early next week, although Russia\u00a0and\u00a0China still have a competing text under consideration.<\/p>\n
U.S. SEEKS HORMUZ COORDINATION WITH FRANCO-BRITISH MISSION<\/p>\n
The Security Council push is being pursued alongside diplomatic outreach on the MFC, a U.S.-led coordination body that would work with a separate\u00a0Franco-British maritime mission\u00a0involving around 30 countries.<\/p>\n
The Franco-British initiative seeks to lay the groundwork for safe transit through the Strait once the situation stabilizes or the conflict is resolved, with Iranian coordination.<\/p>\n
Some states have signaled any mission would require a U.N. mandate before committing military assets.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe MFC is complementary to other maritime security task forces, including the maritime planning effort the UK\u00a0and\u00a0France are leading,\u201d according to an informal diplomatic document sent to governments\u00a0and\u00a0seen by Reuters.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe MFC will remain structurally independent, though close coordination is essential to achieve the strongest maritime security architecture possible.\u201d<\/p>\n