April 3, 2026 — The UN Security Council prepared to vote on a Bahrain-sponsored draft resolution that would allow states to take defensive — but not offensive — measures to protect navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, a choke point for roughly one-fifth of global oil shipments. The text, backed by six Gulf states and Jordan, was pared back from earlier drafts that had proposed broader military authorizations after pushback from veto-wielding Council members.
Under the final wording, states would be permitted to use defensive measures deemed necessary and proportionate in the Strait of Hormuz and adjacent waters to protect shipping and deter interference for an initial period of at least six months. Russia and China had objected to earlier language that would have allowed “all necessary means.” Iran warned the Council against any provocative action ahead of the vote, saying such moves would only deepen the crisis.
The vote followed a UK-led virtual meeting attended by more than 40 countries that discussed diplomatic and economic steps to pressure Tehran to reopen the waterway. Gulf governments have urged an international response as the broader Iran–US–Israel conflict has largely paralysed transit through the strait and roiled energy markets.
Military and security developments
– Iran launched long-range missiles at Israel and some Gulf states, with explosions reported near Tehran and Isfahan. Israel, Bahrain and Kuwait issued alerts and activated air defences. Israeli officials said at least one missile penetrated defences and struck central Israel, damaging homes, roads and vehicles.
– Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed it shot down a US F-35 stealth jet over Iranian airspace and said the pilot likely did not survive; US Central Command has previously dismissed Iranian claims of downing US fighter jets.
– The United States carried out strikes inside Iran that struck a bridge under construction near Tehran, identified by Iranian state media as the B1 bridge; Iranian reports said at least 95 people were wounded. US President Donald Trump posted that the US had not yet begun destroying what remained in Iran and warned that bridges and electric power plants could be targeted next, a stance that prompted legal and humanitarian concerns among experts.
– Gulf states reported attacks on energy facilities. Kuwait’s Mina Al-Ahmadi refinery caught fire after a drone strike, and parts of a desalination plant and a power station were damaged. In Abu Dhabi, debris from intercepted ordnance fell at the Habshan gas plant, forcing a shutdown while emergency crews contained fires; authorities reported no injuries at the plant.
Diplomacy and international responses
– France and South Korea said they would work together to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz and stabilise the region, though neither leader outlined specific military measures. French President Emmanuel Macron rejected proposals to reopen the strait by force as unrealistic and called for clear international conditions for easing the crisis.
– President Trump publicly urged Asian partners, including South Korea and Japan, as well as other states, to assist in reopening the waterway while criticising some NATO members for reluctance to engage. Germany’s foreign minister, Johann Wadephul, described such remarks as concerning but said he did not expect a US withdrawal from NATO.
Economic and humanitarian impact
– Oil prices jumped on concerns of prolonged disruption: US benchmark crude climbed above $110 a barrel and Brent also rose sharply. Asian markets traded cautiously over Good Friday, with Japan’s Nikkei and South Korea’s Kospi gaining while China’s Shanghai Composite slipped.
– Global food costs rose in March, with the FAO Food Price Index up 2.4% from February, largely driven by higher energy prices tied to the conflict. FAO economists warned that sustained hostilities and higher input costs could lead farmers to reduce plantings or switch crops, potentially affecting yields and supply into the coming year.
– European policymakers signalled preparations for possible energy shortages, urging lower consumption and accelerated investment in renewables to mitigate the impact of higher oil and gas prices.
Maritime developments
– A CMA CGM-operated, Maltese-flagged container ship, the Kribi, completed a transit through the Strait of Hormuz and exited the Gulf — the first known passage by a major European shipping group since maritime traffic was largely paralysed following US and Israeli strikes on Iran in late February. How the vessel managed the transit was initially unclear.
Analysis and outlook
The Security Council vote is aimed at creating a multilateral, defensive framework to keep a key commercial artery open without authorising offensive military operations that could further escalate the conflict. Still, missile strikes and cross-border attacks, damage to civilian infrastructure, and mounting economic shocks increase the risk of a wider confrontation and prolonged disruption to energy and trade routes. Governments are likely to continue combining diplomatic pressure, protective measures for shipping and contingency planning for energy supplies as they weigh the risks of deeper military involvement.