The Gulf countries were trying to advance a resolution drafted by Bahrain in the United Nations Security Council that would allow the use of force to defend their shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
The resolution:
“[A]uthorizes member States, acting nationally or through voluntary multinational naval partnerships, with advance notifications to the Security Council,” to use all necessary means “to secure transit passage and to deter attempts to close, obstruct or otherwise interfere with international navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.”
Now that would seem simple, and primarily defensive, to be able to protect yourself and get through.
Bahrain’s foreign minister, Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, told a session of the Security Council on Thursday that “Iran’s aggressive intentions” toward its Arab neighbors were “treacherous” and “preplanned,” and violated international law. He said Iran had targeted civilian structures such as airports, water stations, seaports and hotels.
Iran signaled on Thursday that it intended to continue to oversee shipping traffic through the critical Strait of Hormuz, even after the war.
But the effort was effectively stymied on Thursday by three countries. You could probably guess two of them – Russia and China. But the third was ridiculous: France. They opposed any authorization of military action or use of force, according to a diplomat and a senior U.N. official.
The actual vote on the resolution, which was drafted by Bahrain with the support of the Arab countries in the Persian Gulf, is expected to be scheduled for Friday. But it remained unclear whether extra hours of diplomacy would bring the three veto-holding countries on board.
Macron said use of force was “unrealistic” because it would “take an inordinate amount of time” and expose people to threats from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
I don’t like to use pejoratives, but throughout writing this, I kept thinking of the term “cheese-eating surrender monkeys” when it comes to France. How do you behave this way, with such a weak-kneed response to dealing with a terrorist regime, even when your own interests are involved? And they don’t even want to authorize the Gulf states to be able to defend themselves, because…it might be violent. Unbelievable. Of course, the Gulf states don’t need the U.N. to act. It should be a world effort, but the U.N. is so ineffective, I wouldn’t bet they can get this through.
READ MORE: Trump Zings Macron – but Macron’s Iran Response Is the Real Joke
There was also a coalition meeting of nations, including some of our European allies.
A 41-nation virtual call, chaired by the U.K., saw jabs at Iran for “trying to hold the global economy hostage,” fresh talk of sanctions, and a promise to up diplomatic pressure over the continued blockage of the vital trade artery.
But the gathering made plain they wanted a ceasefire before they would consider going further.
They did say they would reject the effort by Iran to potentially collect tolls for letting ships through, so I suppose that’s something if they stick to it.
A readout of the meeting, provided by the U.K. side, said participants agreed to turn up international heat, including through the UN, to send clear and co-ordinated messages to Iran to permit unimpeded transit passage through the Strait of Hormuz and to comprehensively reject the imposition of tolls on vessels which seek to pass through.”
President Donald Trump may be thinking that if he gets the objectives of Operation Epic Fury done and/or they agree to a ceasefire, this coalition can then act. This is not a complicated process if you have the will to put it into place; it should be an international effort to keep it clear. The only question is, do they have the will?
Editor’s Note: For decades, former presidents have been all talk and no action. Now, Donald Trump is eliminating the threat from Iran once and for all.
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