France drafts UN Security Council mission for freedom of navigation in Hormuz

France has prepared a draft United Nations Security Council resolution to establish an international mission aimed at restoring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, the French foreign ministry announced on Friday. The move comes as a separate U.S.-backed resolution faces significant diplomatic hurdles and potential vetoes from Russia and China.

The narrow waterway is a critical global shipping lane for oil, and its effective closure has contributed to rising energy prices. Securing the strait is also a central issue in negotiations to end the ongoing three-month conflict between the United States and Iran.

A draft resolution sponsored by the United States and Bahrain, which demands Iran cease attacks and mining activities in the strait, has been under discussion for over two weeks. A vote has been repeatedly delayed. China and Russia, both permanent Security Council members with veto power, have signaled they could block the measure, arguing it is biased against Tehran. The two countries vetoed a similar U.S.-backed text in April on those grounds.

Despite this opposition, U.S. diplomats have secured co-sponsorship from nearly 140 countries in an effort to build momentum...