The six countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) stand behind a resolution that is to be brought before the Security Council stating that all necessary means must be employed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The expression implies the use of military force. The meeting has been postponed, and China has indicated that it will exercise its veto. Nevertheless, a new coalition is taking shape in which the United States, Israel and the Gulf states defend the war against Iran as necessary.
The EU is opposed and thus finds itself on the same side as Iran when it advocates diplomatic solutions. They will pull the chestnuts out of the fire for Iran.
It is Bahrain that holds the presidency and can submit the resolution for a vote.
At a meeting of the UN Security Council, the Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states that Iran’s retaliatory attacks against its neighbours have exceeded “all limits”.
Jassim Albudaiwi also emphasises that the six GCC countries must be included in all discussions or agreements with Iran concerning the securing of regional security.
The Gulf states thus call for the use of military force, while the President of France states that it is impossible to open the strait by force.
Reopening the Strait of Hormuz by means of military force is unrealistic, Macron asserts.
– It is unrealistic because it would take a disproportionately long time and would expose all those crossing the strait to threats from the coast by the Revolutionary Guard, which has significant resources, as well as ballistic missiles and a range of other risky capabilities, he says.
Macron has now staked his prestige on the claim that it is impossible to open the strait by military force, while Iran’s neighbouring countries take a different view.
Macron finds himself on Iran’s side.
– Any provocative action by the aggressors and their supporters, including the UN Security Council, regarding the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, will only complicate the situation, says Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Friday.
China had already announced that it would vote against the resolution. As a permanent member of the Council, it holds veto power and can thus block the decision.
Macron also does not believe that the issue of Iran’s nuclear weapons programme can be resolved by force. He thus stands in diametrical opposition to Trump.
The United States’ and Israel’s war of aggression against Iran will also not resolve the nuclear weapons issue, says Macron.
– A targeted military action, even over several weeks, will not resolve the nuclear weapons issue in the long term, he says.
– If there is no framework for diplomatic and technical negotiations, the situation may deteriorate again in a few months or years, says Macron.
NTB has begun to refer to the war as a war of aggression.
Instead of taking American signals of dissatisfaction with allies and the risks to NATO cooperation seriously, Macron criticises the Americans for placing the cooperation itself in jeopardy.
– If one daily creates doubt about what commitments one has, then the commitment is emptied of its content, says Macron, who visited South Korea on Thursday.
– There is too much talk going in all directions, he added. (NTB)
Are the warnings from Trump and Rubio merely rhetoric? Macron appears to believe that the Americans do not mean what they say.