GCC condemns Iranian attacks and Strait of Hormuz closure at UN
France is drafting a United Nations Security Council resolution, coordinated with the United States, to establish an international mission restoring commercial navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
Diplomatic Momentum at the United Nations
France has initiated the drafting of a Security Council resolution aimed at forming an international naval or monitoring presence to keep the critical waterway open. According to diplomats cited by Reuters on September 22, 2026, the proposed text focuses strictly on separating the security of the Strait of Hormuz from broader geopolitical tensions with Iran.
The diplomatic effort follows high-level talks held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly between French President Emmanuel Macron and United States President Donald Trump. Following their discussions, Macron told reporters that multiple options were on the table and that Paris would pursue diplomatic solutions to help container ships and oil tankers transit safely, even without a comprehensive regional settlement.
Previous French attempts to build consensus around a similar maritime protection mandate stalled due to potential vetoes from Russia and China. However, renewed urgency has emerged. Global oil price spikes and growing security concerns surrounding Bab el-Mandeb—following advances by the Houthi movement in Yemen—have reinvigorated international talks to safeguard global energy arteries.
Persian Gulf Security and the Call for Accountability
The diplomatic push aligns with intense diplomatic maneuvers by Gulf states at the United Nations. Addressing the UN General Assembly, Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani detailed a series of unprovoked attacks by Iran using ballistic missiles and drones against civilian infrastructure, residential areas, ports, airports, and energy facilities in Gulf Cooperation Council countries and Jordan.
Al Zayani characterized these strikes as a blatant violation of international law and the UN Charter. He emphasized that the Strait of Hormuz is an international navigational strait where the right of transit passage is guaranteed to all nations under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Manama firmly rejected any unilateral permit systems, fees, or economic blackmail applied to international waterways.
Speaking on behalf of the GCC member states and Jordan during his tenure holding a non-permanent seat on the Security Council, Al Zayani highlighted the passage of Security Council Resolution 2817. That measure formally condemned attacks on Gulf states, reaffirmed their sovereignty, and rejected any actions aimed at choking traffic through the strait. Bahrain also advanced a draft resolution under Chapter VII of the UN Charter focused on protecting commercial shipping and ensuring accountability for violations.
The Road Ahead for International Maritime Law
The proposed French-backed Security Council resolution seeks to harmonize international patrols without adopting an overtly aggressive posture toward Tehran or entangling the mission in separate regional disputes. Diplomats expect the text to circulate among UN Security Council members soon.
Yet, securing consensus among permanent Security Council members remains a delicate balancing act.