US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters on Tuesday that he had asked the United Nations to pressure Iran to “cease ship bombings, clear mines and allow humanitarian relief” in the Strait of Hormuz.
Members of the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday began closed-door consultations on a resolution drafted by the United States with Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Qatar. If passed, the resolution could lead to sanctions against Iran and authorize the use of force if Iran fails to stop attacks or threats against commercial shipping in the strait.
The closure of the strait, through which a fifth of the world’s oil and gas supplies are transported in peacetime, caused oil prices to soar and raised fears of a global economic crisis.
However, the Trump administration has taken a hostile approach to the United Nations since Donald Trump took office in January 2025, preferring to carve its own path on the international stage.
So why has the US turned to the UN for help now, and what is the significance of the latest developments?
What is the Trump administration saying about the United Nations?
Rubio said on Tuesday that a U.S.-proposed U.N. resolution calling for an end to attacks on Iran in the Strait of Hormuz would test the U.N.’s “usefulness” and urged China and Russia not to repeat their vetoes.
“If the international community can’t stand behind this and solve problems as simple as this, I don’t see what the use of the United Nations system is,” Rubio said.
Since Donald Trump began his second term as US president last year, Washington has undermined the United Nations and the existing international rules-based order.
In September 2025, during a speech at the United Nations General Assembly, President Trump asked, “What is the purpose of the United Nations?”
He added: “The United Nations has enormous potential. I have always said that. The United Nations has enormous potential. But we are far from realizing that potential.”
In the same speech, President Trump claimed that his administration had ended “seven endless wars” without help from the United Nations, adding, “It’s too bad I had to do these things instead of the United Nations.”
In January, President Trump established a “peace commission” as part of a U.S.-mediated plan to end Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza.
When a reporter asked President Trump if he wanted to create a peace commission instead of the United Nations, Trump replied, “Maybe.”
What UN Security Council resolution has the United States proposed?
The United States and its Gulf allies have proposed a U.N. Security Council resolution that would threaten Iran with sanctions and other measures unless it discloses the status of all its mines, stopping attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz, ending the imposition of “illegal tolls” and allowing freedom of navigation.
The draft resolution, seen by some international media, also calls on Iran to “immediately join and enable” U.N. efforts to establish a humanitarian corridor across the strait to deliver critical aid, fertilizer and other supplies.
This is the latest effort by the United States and its Gulf allies to reopen the strait, after an initial resolution to open it was vetoed by China and Russia hours before the United States and Iran announced a temporary ceasefire in early April.
Rubio said he looked forward to a vote on the resolution in the coming days, but also told reporters on Tuesday that it remained unclear whether the “minor adjustments” the U.S. made to the text would be enough to avoid a council veto by Iran’s allies.
Bahrain’s previous resolution, backed by the United States, appeared to pave the way for legalizing military action against Iran, but failed last month when Russia and China vetoed it in the 15-nation Security Council.
The new draft rules operate under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, which allows the Security Council to impose measures ranging from sanctions to military action, but avoids explicit language regarding authorizing the use of force.
“I don’t think anyone wants to see another veto, and we’ve made some adjustments to the wording,” Rubio said at a White House press briefing, adding, “I don’t know if we’ll be able to avoid a veto.”
“I think this is a real test for the United Nations as a functioning entity,” he added.
The draft also calls on Tehran to cooperate with U.N. efforts to establish a humanitarian corridor through the strait, citing disruptions to aid shipments, fertilizer shipments and other essential goods.
The UN Secretary-General will report on compliance within 30 days, and if Iran is found not to have implemented the resolution, the Security Council will reconvene to consider further measures, including possible sanctions.
When will this resolution be implemented?
Russia and China reportedly still have competing documents under consideration, but Washington wants to quickly conclude talks among Security Council members with the aim of distributing a final draft of the resolution by Friday and holding a vote early next week.
Asked whether the resolution would avoid another veto by China, China’s mission to the United Nations said: “The draft was circulated yesterday afternoon. We are still evaluating it.”
Russia’s mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond.
