The General Assembly today heard explanations from China and the Russian Federation regarding their use of the veto on 7 April, when they rejected a Security Council draft resolution submitted by Gulf States aimed at securing freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz amid heightened tensions across the Middle East.
The 193-member Assembly cannot overturn or nullify a Council veto, which may be exercised by China, France, Russian Federation, United Kingdom or the United States as the five permanent Council members. But, it may discuss, scrutinize and politically respond to veto use through debate and resolutions under the Charter of the United Nations and established practice.
This role was significantly strengthened in April 2022, when the Assembly adopted a procedure requiring every Council veto to trigger an Assembly debate within 10 working days. Today's debate was held under this initiative, which requires vetoing States to explain their rationale and allows all UN members to comment on and assess the veto's consequences, thereby enhancing transparency and accountability.
By the vetoed draft resolution, presented by Bahrain on behalf of Gulf countries on 7 April, the 15-member Council would have demanded that Iran immediately cease all attacks against merchant and commercial vessels and any attempt to impede transit passage or freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
Amid Paralysis in Security Council, General Assembly Steps Up to Act
"Oil prices have surged by more than 40 per cent, rising to around $100 per barrel, with spikes above $110," warned Assembly President Annalena Baerbock (Germany), pointing out that trade disruptions had caused energy and food shortages for millions of vulnerable people. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) had cut its growth outlook for 2026, citing the threat of a global recession.
"While the vetoed resolution focused on the Strait of Hormuz, what we are witnessing is not a single crisis, but the convergence of multiple, overlapping and long-standing fault lines," she observed.
Indeed, she added, if the Council is unable or unwilling to fulfil its Charter responsibility, then the Assembly must step forward and move from debate to action. She therefore encouraged all Member States to put forward concrete, forward-looking solutions, including draft resolutions, to help move beyond the current impasse, not only in the Strait of Hormuz, but across the region.
Beijing, Moscow Defend Veto as Checks on Escalation, Say Draft Risked Condoning Force on Vague Terms
The representative of the Russian Federation said her country had used the veto because the draft resolution ignored the broader context of the conflict and would have given the Council "a green light" to use certain protective measures "under the pretext" of ensuring the safety of navigation.
"Every paragraph was replete with confrontational and factually incorrect elements," she added, warning against "enshrining the possibility of using force on the basis of vague criteria" and "the attempt to paint Iran as the sole threat to international peace and security".
The developments following Moscow's negative vote, including a ceasefire in Iran, she said, had confirmed that the decision was correct. She drew attention to an alternative Council draft resolution tabled by the Russian Federation that is "currently in blue".
China's veto, the country's delegate said, upheld international fairness and justice, defended the UN Charter, prevented further escalation and created favourable conditions for dialogue.
Beijing "always determines its voting position based on the merits of the issue itself and whether the adoption of a resolution would genuinely contribute to resolving the issue and achieving peace", he said. Council action must aim to de-escalate - not "provide a veneer of legitimacy for unauthorized military operations or grant a license to the use of force".
Iran, Calling Veto 'Justified', Remains 'Cautiously Optimistic', as Gulf States Pledge to Table New Draft
The representative of Kuwait, speaking also on behalf of Bahrain, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, said that they intended to submit a new draft resolution aimed at securing freedom of maritime navigation.
"This effort will be based on a comprehensive consultative approach that takes into account all concerns, thereby enhancing the prospects of achieving broad international consensus and reaffirming the principles of international law" applicable to the use of straits for international navigation. The credibility of the international system is measured by its unity and its ability to implement its resolutions on the ground, and today "that credibility stands before a real test", he said.
Iran's delegate said the vetoes by China and the Russian Federation were justified. The one-sided text ignored the root causes of the crisis - an illegal war waged by the United States and Israel. Its adoption would have set a dangerous precedent. Over the past 40 days, the United States and Israel have "crossed every legal, moral and humanitarian boundary", he said, targeting Iran's schools, hospitals, airports, sport facilities and historic sites.
"Any viable solution must ensure a definite and irreversible end to the aggression," he said. "Despite our deep mistrust of the United States stemming from its repeated betrayal of diplomacy," Tehran has engaged in negotiations in good faith and remains "cautiously optimistic".
The representative of the United States said the Russian Federation and China "deliberately chose to turn a blind eye - and worse, to permit Iran's attacks on its neighbours, its terror against its own people and its death grip that it's attempting to place on the global economy". Instead of supporting Gulf States, he said, Moscow is supplying Tehran with military equipment and Beijing is importing over 90 per cent of Iran's illicit oil.
In the days since these vetoes were cast, critical shipments have been delayed, fertilizers have failed to reach countries in Africa and South Asia, and vulnerable populations have faced food insecurity. The Strait of Hormuz - like all straits - is "too vital to be choked, to be mined, to be weaponized and held hostage by the likes of the Iranian regime", he warned.
Pakistan's delegate highlighted its role in ending the war and mediating a durable peace. He emphasized the importance of the Strait of Hormuz as a vital shipping route. Safe passage must be ensured, he insisted, while any discussion or arrangement related to the Strait must consider the legitimate interests of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.
From Africa to Asia: Calls for Unfettered Passage across Hormuz Strait, amid Soaring Costs, Impending Cost-of-Living Crisis
Many speakers underscored the broad impact of the ongoing conflict.
"This is a global crisis and the most significant humanitarian supply chain disruption since COVID - comparable to the shock caused by Russia's blockade of the Black Sea," stressed the representative of the European Union, in its capacity as observer.
In this regard, the representative of Philippines, speaking for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), called for the restoration of "safe, unimpeded and continuous" transit passage of vessels and aircraft in the Strait of Hormuz, in line with 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. He urged all parties to ensure the safety of seafarers and ships in accordance with the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea.
Expressing deep concern over the conflict's severe impact on Africa, including its own economy, Sierra Leone's representative said: "The conflict […] is quickly turning into a cost‑of‑living crisis across Africa due to the higher fuel and food prices, rising shipping and insurance costs, exchange rate pressures and tighter fiscal conditions."
He warned that "the fertilizer shortage is even more consequential than the oil shock". War-risk insurance premiums - which had already risen tenfold on some routes - are forcing vessel diversions and increasing import costs across sectors. If the crisis extends beyond June, gross domestic product (GDP) growth could fall to 2.5 to 3 per cent, inflation could rise to 15 to 20 per cent and poverty could increase by up to three percentage points, pushing as many as 150,000 people into extreme poverty.
For Small States, Rule of Law 'a Matter of Survival'
"For small States, the international rule of law is a matter of survival," said the representative of Singapore, also speaking for Fiji, Jamaica and Malta, recalling that these four States actively contributed to the adoption of the Law of the Sea Convention.
Under the Convention, he said the "right of transit passage" applies to the Strait of Hormuz, as it is used for international navigation. When passage is disrupted, "the consequences reverberate across the global economy - through energy markets, supply chains and increased freight costs". These disruptions severely impact economic resilience and energy security in many small island nations and developing States with import-dependent economies.
In that regard, Japan highlighted its recent launch of the "Partnership on Wide Energy and Resource Resilience in Asia" aimed at strengthening emergency responses and supply chain resilience through coordinated energy procurement and stockpiling mechanisms. He welcomed the 19 March decision of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council and called on relevant parties to take immediate action towards establishing a safe maritime corridor.
China, France Under Attack for Giving in to Blackmail, Russian Federation for Using Veto for Financial Gain
Action by certain permanent Council members came under criticism during the day-long debate, in which more than 60 delegations delivered their statements.
"The steep rise in fertilizer prices due to the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is not just a slap in the face of the Global South, it is a severe blow to the underbelly of their economies," said the representative of Ukraine. "So, let us be clear: Russia has vetoed the draft resolution simply because it is the main ally of Iran and an accomplice to Tehran's ongoing illegal acts."
He added that another reason the Kremlin chose to block the draft resolution and curtail freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz was its financial gain from disruptions in global energy markets. The surge in oil and gas prices, he said, had generated extraordinary windfall revenues for Moscow, with the blockade alone estimated to have added $9 billion in March, enabling it to continue its military invasion of Ukraine.
"When you block such a text, you are not neutral, you are standing with the terrorist regime," said the representative of Israel. Turning to ambassadors, including those from China and France, he asked: "What agreement was signed to get your ships through the Strait of Hormuz?" "When you give into blackmail you don't stop the bully, you empower them," he added.
Cuba's representative said that the profound instability in the Middle East stemmed from "the United States' doctrine of peace through force", which had exposed "the hegemonic interests of Washington and its ally Israel". Expressing regret for the victims of the violence, he said: "We have warned about the serious consequences of the United States' irresponsible behaviour for the region and the world."
He further referred to the continued "cruel" economic embargo against his country and said that the United States was now threatening to attack Cuba while publicly declaring its intention to overthrow its Government. Calling for efforts to "curb this aggressive rhetoric", he urged States to "stress the value of multilateralism, rather than the logic of confrontation and force".
Lebanon Welcomes United States Announcement of 10-Day Truce with Israel
During the day, news emerged that an agreement had been reached on an Israel‑Lebanon ceasefire, amid heightened tensions in the Middle East. Welcoming the announcement by the United States of a 10-day ceasefire starting from "this evening", the representative of Lebanon said: "What we've achieved today proves that diplomacy and dialogue can indeed lead to solutions that can never be achieved by war."
