U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks during a press briefing in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 5, 2026. REUTERS\/Kylie Cooper<\/p>\n
Rubio Calls U.N. Vote \u2018Test\u2019 as U.S. Pushes Iran Shipping Crackdown<\/p>\n
By David Brunnstrom and John Irish<\/p>\n
WASHINGTON\/PARIS, May 5 (Reuters)\u00a0\u2013\u00a0U.S. Secretary of State Marco\u00a0Rubio\u00a0on Tuesday called a U.S.-proposed U.N. resolution demanding Iran stop attacks and laying mines in the<\/p>\n
a test of the utility of the United Nations and urged China and Russia not to repeat vetoes.<\/p>\n
U.N. Security Council members began closed talks on Tuesday on a text the U.S. drafted with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Qatar, which, if it were to pass, could lead to sanctions against Iran, and potentially authorize force, if Tehran fails to halt attacks and threats to commercial shipping.<\/p>\n
Fresh\u00a0exchanges of fire\u00a0on Monday underscored the stakes as the U.S. and Iran struggle for control of the narrow waterway, a vital artery for global energy and trade, shaking a fragile four-week-old truce and reinforcing rival maritime blockades.<\/p>\n
resolution that was backed by the United States and appeared to open a path to\u00a0legitimize\u00a0U.S.\u00a0military action against Iran failed\u00a0last month after\u00a0Russia and China<\/p>\n
exercised their vetoes<\/p>\n
in the 15-member Security Council.<\/p>\n
The new draft avoids 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
\u201cEveryone wouldn\u2019t want to see this vetoed again, and we\u2019ve made some slight adjustments to the language,\u201d\u00a0Rubio\u00a0told reporters at a White House news briefing, while adding: \u201cI don\u2019t know if it will avoid a veto or not.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s a real test to the U.N. \u2026 as something that functions,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
A draft of the resolution seen by Reuters condemns Iran\u2019s alleged violations of the current ceasefire and its \u201ccontinuing actions and threats aimed at closing, obstructing, tolling\u201d freedom of navigation through the strait.<\/p>\n
It demands Iran immediately cease attacks, disclose the locations of any mines and not impede clearance operations.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll we\u2019re asking them to do is to condemn it, to call on Iran to stop blowing (up) ships, to remove these mines and to allow humanitarian relief to come through,\u201d\u00a0Rubio\u00a0said.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo both the Chinese and the Russians, I \u2026 have argued, that it is in their interest for that resolution to pass and for pressure to be brought on Iran, because it is in their interest not to see international waterways, particularly the Strait of Hormuz, be closed down and cause economic chaos to dozens and dozens of countries around the world.\u201d<\/p>\n
The draft 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 and other essential goods.<\/p>\n
The U.N. secretary-general would report back within 30 days on compliance and the Security Council reconvene to consider additional steps, including possible sanctions, if Iran failed to implement the resolution.<\/p>\n
CHINA SAYS ASSESSING TEXT<\/p>\n
Diplomats said Washington hopes to close negotiations quickly, with the aim of circulating a final draft by Friday and holding a vote early next week, although Russia and China still have a competing text under consideration.<\/p>\n
Asked if the resolution could avoid another Chinese veto, China\u2019s U.N. mission said: \u201cThe draft was circulated yesterday in the afternoon. We are still doing our assessment.\u201d<\/p>\n
Russia\u2019s U.N. mission did not immediately respond.<\/p>\n
U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said it was not his place to comment on drafts, but added at a regular briefing: \u201cObviously we want to see this international waterway open, open safely, and a restoration of the freedom of navigation that is so critical to the world.\u201d<\/p>\n
Monday\u2019s escalation, in which the U.S. said it destroyed six Iranian small boats and Iranian missiles hit a UAE oil port, followed Washington\u2019s launch of \u201cProject Freedom,\u201d a U.S.?led effort to move stranded tankers and other vessels through Hormuz.<\/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 and reopening the strait once conditions stabilize.<\/p>\n
The MFC would work with a separate\u00a0Franco?British maritime mission\u00a0involving around 30 countries\u00a0that\u00a0seeks 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 and France are leading,\u201d according to an informal diplomatic document sent to governments and seen 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