US, Bahrain float UNSC resolution on Hormuz

Published May 9, 2026 Updated May 9, 2026 05:56am

UNITED NATIONS: Bahrain and the United States have distributed a draft UN Security Council resolution calling for Iran to cease attacks in the Strait of Hormuz, according to the two countries’ ambassadors.

The text is supported by Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Iran dismisses the draft as “one-sided”, and there are no indications when it will be brought to a vote.

The development comes a day after the Security Council met in closed session following Monday’s missile and drone attacks on the UAE, which the Iranian military categorically denied carrying out.

“The Strait of Hormuz is critical not only to the stability and the prosperity of the Gulf region, but also to the global economy,” Bahraini Ambassador Jamal Fares Alrowaiei told reporters.

Recent developments underscore the importance of keeping the waterway secure and open, demonstrating the need for collective action, he said. The text builds on Resolution 2817, which condemned attacks by Iran against seven neighbouring countries.

The draft calls for Iran to immediately cease all attacks and threats against vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. It also addresses the placement of mines, illegal tolling and efforts to establish a humanitarian corridor.

US Ambassador Mike Waltz underscored that freedom of navigation for the global economy is at stake — nothing less than a cornerstone of worldwide stability and commerce.

He warned that those who abuse it are setting a dangerous precedent to doom global trade.

Waltz said the resolution requires Iran to do simple things. However, he noted Tehran’s announcement of the Persian Gulf Straits Authority, which requires international ship captains to pay a toll when transiting the waterway.

“So that doesn’t just affect this region. It affects the entire world,” he said.

Published in Dawn, May 9th, 2026

Opinion

Editorial

Removing subsidies
Updated 09 May, 2026

Removing subsidies

The government no longer has the budgetary space to continue carrying hundreds of billions of rupees in untargeted subsidies while the power sector itself remains trapped in circular debt, inefficiencies, theft and under-recovery.
Scarred at home
09 May, 2026

Scarred at home

WHEN homes turn violent towards children, the psychosocial damage is lifelong. In Pakistan, parental violence is...
Zionist zealotry
09 May, 2026

Zionist zealotry

BOTH the Israeli military and far-right citizens of the Zionist state have been involved in appalling hate crimes...
Shifting climate tone
Updated 08 May, 2026

Shifting climate tone

Our financial system is geared towards short-term, risk-averse lending, while climate adaptation and green infrastructure require patient, long-term capital.
Honour and impunity
08 May, 2026

Honour and impunity

THE Sindh Assembly’s discussion on karo-kari this week reminds us of the enduring nature of ‘honour’ killings...
No real change
08 May, 2026

No real change

THE Indian sports ministry’s move to allow Pakistani players and teams to participate in multilateral events ...