The UN Security Council is meeting at Bahrain’s request to discuss threats to regional and maritime security, nearly nine months after Israeli and US strikes on Iran triggered a regional war. Iran has all but closed the Strait of Hormuz, and attacks on shipping are rising.
The war began on 28 February. Iran then struck US military assets and other targets in six Gulf states and Jordan. In March, the council adopted resolution 2817, which condemned Iran's attacks and its threats to navigation; China and Russia abstained.
A 60-day US–Iran ceasefire, mediated by Pakistan in June, lapsed in August without a peace deal. Efforts to stop a return to full-scale fighting have yet to produce a deal.
Transits through Hormuz remain around 65 per cent below pre-conflict levels, according to UK Maritime Trade Operations, and October saw the most incidents since the war began. Transits through the Bab al-Mandab Strait are down by roughly a quarter since the Houthis declared a blockade on Saudi-linked shipping in July.
The Strait of Hormuz carried a fifth of the world's oil before the conflict.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The Hormuz chokepoint carried a fifth of the world's oil before the war; its effective closure threatens global energy supplies and prices.
- Rising attacks on shipping risk drawing in navies from outside the region and escalating into a wider maritime confrontation.
- The failure of the June ceasefire to produce a peace deal leaves the region without a diplomatic off-ramp as incidents mount.
Background
The war began on 28 February after Israeli and US strikes on Iran. Iran responded by striking US military assets and other targets in six Gulf states and Jordan. The Security Council adopted resolution 2817 in March, condemning Iran's attacks and threats to navigation, with China and Russia abstaining. A 60-day US–Iran ceasefire mediated by Pakistan in June lapsed in August without a peace deal.
Key Perspectives
Bahrain: requested the Security Council meeting to discuss the threat to regional and maritime security.
UK Maritime Trade Operations: reports Hormuz transits are around 65% below pre-conflict levels, and October saw the most incidents since the war began.
Houthis: declared a blockade on Saudi-linked shipping in July, cutting Bab al-Mandab transits by roughly a quarter.
What to Watch
- Whether the Security Council issues a new resolution or statement on maritime security.
- Any diplomatic efforts to revive the ceasefire or negotiate a broader peace deal.
- The trend in shipping incidents through Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab in November and December.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
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- SupportedThe Gulf calm is fragile and being tested.UN News - Global perspective Human stories: “the Gulf remains on a knife edge”
- SupportedIran has all but closed the Strait of Hormuz.UN News - Global perspective Human stories: “Iran has all but closed the Strait of Hormuz”
- SupportedThe Security Council is meeting at Bahrain’s request to discuss threats to regional and maritime security.UN News - Global perspective Human stories: “The Security Council is meeting at Bahrain’s request to discuss the threat to regional and maritime security.”
- SupportedTransits through Hormuz remain around 65% below pre-conflict levels.UN News - Global perspective Human stories: “Transits through Hormuz remain around 65 per cent below pre-conflict levels”
- SupportedOctober saw the most incidents since the war began.UN News - Global perspective Human stories: “October saw the most incidents since the war began”
- SupportedThe Israeli and US strikes on Iran set off a regional war nearly nine months before the report.UN News - Global perspective Human stories: “Nearly nine months after Israeli and US strikes on Iran set off a regional war”
- SupportedAttacks on shipping are rising.UN News - Global perspective Human stories: “Attacks on shipping are rising”
- SupportedThe war began on 28 February.UN News - Global perspective Human stories: “The war began on 28 February.”
- SupportedIran struck US military assets and other targets in six Gulf states and Jordan.UN News - Global perspective Human stories: “Iran then struck US military assets and other targets in six Gulf States and Jordan”
- SupportedIn March, the Security Council adopted resolution 2817, condemning Iran’s attacks and threats to navigation.UN News - Global perspective Human stories: “In March, the council adopted resolution 2817, which condemned Iran’s attacks and its threats to navigation.”
- SupportedChina and Russia abstained on resolution 2817.UN News - Global perspective Human stories: “China and Russia abstained”
- SupportedA 60-day US–Iran ceasefire mediated by Pakistan in June lapsed in August without a peace deal.UN News - Global perspective Human stories: “A 60-day US–Iran ceasefire, mediated by Pakistan in June, lapsed in August without a peace deal”