France is preparing a draft resolution at the UN Security Council to support freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, as the vital waterway faces tensions linked to the war with Iran and shipping traffic has been almost completely disrupted since the conflict began in February. A UN diplomat, who requested anonymity because of the non-public nature of the discussions, said the draft resolution would renew calls for freedom of navigation in the strait to be respected.
Draft resolution affirms freedom of navigation and the law of the sea
He explained that Hormuz’s importance is linked to its role in global shipping, particularly vital supplies for food and energy security. The diplomat added that the expected text would also stress the need to respect the law of the sea, alongside support for peaceful initiatives aimed at ensuring safe passage through the strait.
He said US President Donald Trump and his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, discussed the issue on the sidelines of this week’s annual UN General Assembly meetings. According to the diplomat, discussions on the French initiative extended to Arab countries and Iran.
Iranian plan to halt conflict raises US doubts
This comes as the US maintains that Iranian forces do not control the strait, while US forces are deployed around it and have imposed a blockade on Iranian ports. In parallel with the French move, Tehran has presented a new 7-day plan aimed at halting the conflict and returning to negotiations, which could end with the waterway being reopened to shipping. Ship traffic through the strait has been almost completely paralysed since the war erupted in February.
Informed US sources said Trump is sceptical about the Iranian plan and may reject it, with a possible return to war after the US midterm elections scheduled for November.
Since the outbreak of the war, the Strait of Hormuz has become a bargaining chip used by Iran, which has stepped up its threats against ships and demanded a role in managing the strait and the imposition of fees on passing tankers. The demands have been rejected by the Trump administration and several Western and Arab countries, amid disagreement over which party should regulate transit through the vital waterway.
