UN Security Council vote today on diluted Hormuz Strait resolution

The UN Security Council is set to vote Tuesday on a watered-down resolution addressing Iran's threats to the Strait of Hormuz, diplomatic sources told AFP, after more robust earlier drafts faced potential vetoes.

Iran has imposed an effective blockade on the critical waterway since the United States and Israel launched the war on February 28, sending ripple effects throughout the global economy.

Bahrain, backed by other oil-exporting Gulf countries, had launched negotiations two weeks ago on a draft resolution that would have given a clear UN mandate to any state wishing to use force to unblock the strait.

However, objections from several veto-holding permanent members have seen the text gradually watered down, and the vote -- originally scheduled for late last week -- has been delayed multiple times.

The latest draft, seen by AFP on Monday, still demands Iran end its attacks on commercial vessels and to halt "any attempt to impede transit passage or freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz."

Instead of expressly authorizing force, it "strongly encourages States...to coordinate efforts, defensive in nature, commensurate to the circumstances, to contribute to ensuring the safety and security of navigation, including through the escort of merchant and commercial vessels."

It also encourages coordination "to deter attempts to close, obstruct or otherwise interfere with international navigation through the Strait of Hormuz."

The draft expresses the Council's "readiness to consider further measures" against anyone undermining freedom of navigation in the Strait.

The vote is scheduled for Tuesday at 11:00 am (1500 GMT), nine hours before President Donald Trump's deadline for Iran to agree to a deal or face attacks against its power plants and bridges.

Israel’s defence minister confirmed an attack on the South Pars gas complex, targeting Iran’s biggest petrochemical plant.

It comes less than three weeks since Trump told Israel to not attack the site again, after Iran retaliated with strikes on energy sites across the Gulf. pic.twitter.com/kqplZh3A2T

— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) April 7, 2026

- Second Philippine national killed -

A second Philippine national has been killed in the Middle East war after a missile struck a residential building in northern Israel, according to Manila's foreign affairs department.

The woman was killed in the port city of Haifa on Sunday "alongside her Israeli husband and elderly parents-in-law", the department said.

Israeli rescue services said Monday that the bodies of four people had been recovered from the rubble of a residential building in the city, after it was struck by an Iranian missile the previous day.

- Israel, Iran trade fire -

Explosions were heard in parts of Tehran and the nearby city of Karaj, Iranian media reported, as the Israeli military said it was carrying out a "wave" of airstrikes on Iran.

"Moments ago, explosions were heard in parts of Tehran and Karaj," local media outlets Fars and Mehr said on Telegram.

The Israeli military also announced its air defences were activated to respond to missiles fired by Iran.

Videos published by Iraqi accounts online appear to show drone attacks in Erbil, northern Iraq, as air defences were seen engaging targets in the sky. Local media reported multiple drone interceptions over Erbil. pic.twitter.com/ci98vargwV

— Al Jazeera Breaking News (@AJENews) April 7, 2026

- Saudis down ballistic missiles -

Saudi air defences intercepted and destroyed seven ballistic missiles launched toward the country's east, debris of which fell near power facilities, the defence ministry's spokesperson said.

- Two killed in Iraqi Kurdistan-

A drone "coming from Iran" killed a couple in Iraqi Kurdistan after crashing into their home, local authorities reported.

Separately, two blasts were heard near Erbil airport, which hosts advisers from the US-led anti-jihadist coalition, in Iraq's northern autonomous Kurdistan region, an AFP journalist said.

Some hours earlier, air defence systems downed four missiles headed towards the US consulate in Erbil, a security source told AFP.

- Iran slams 'arrogant rhetoric' -

After US President Donald Trump doubled down on his threats to raze Iran's infrastructure, an Iranian army spokesman said the "rude, arrogant rhetoric" was not impacting its actions.

- Trump threatens Iran infrastructure -

Trump told a news conference that "the entire country" of Iran "could be taken out in one night and that night might be tomorrow night," if his ultimatum to reopen the Strait of Hormuz by 0000 GMT Wednesday was not met.

"Every power plant in Iran will be out of business, burning, exploding and never to be used again," he said, threatening the same for the country's bridges. "I mean complete demolition by 12 o'clock (0400 GMT), and it'll happen over a period of four hours -- if we wanted to."

- Details on US airman rescue -

Trump and other senior US officials gave details of the high-risk mission to rescue two US airmen who were shot down over Iran, saying more than 170 aircraft and hundreds of troops were involved in the operation.

"These two operations reflect our nation's most sacred obligation to our military service members," top US general Dan Caine said. "We leave no one behind."

Ebrahim Zolfaghari, spokesperson for the IRGC’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, says President Trump’s ‘baseless’ threats would not deter Iran’s military operations.

He said ‘rude rhetoric’ would not stop their attacks on US and Israeli targets. pic.twitter.com/4SHlCyC9ep

— Al Jazeera Breaking News (@AJENews) April 6, 2026

- US, Iran reject ceasefire -

Trump and Iran rejected a ceasefire bid from mediating countries, though the US leader called it a "significant proposal."

"It's a significant step. It's not good enough, but it's a very significant step," Trump told reporters in Washington before his news conference.

Iranian state media said the proposal contained 10 undisclosed points, but Tehran "has rejected a ceasefire and insists on the need for a definitive end to the conflict."

- Red Cross condemns threats to infrastructure -

International Committee of the Red Cross chief Mirjana Spoljaric warned that "deliberate threats... against essential civilian infrastructure and nuclear facilities must not become the new norm in warfare."

"Any war fought without limits is incompatible with the law," she said, without singling out any country or leader.

Trump, asked about potentially committing war crimes by attacking civilian infrastructure, said "I'm not worried about it." He argued an Iran with "a nuclear weapon" would be worse.