Russia and China Veto UN Security Council Resolution on Strait of Hormuz

Russia and China vetoed a UN Security Council resolution that would have encouraged countries to coordinate defensive efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway. The resolution had been repeatedly weakened in attempts to secure abstentions from the two countries, but they ultimately blocked it anyway. The diplomatic effort comes amid escalating tensions with Iran, as Donald Trump warned that a whole civilization will die tonight if a deal is not reached and threatened destruction of Iran's power plants, energy facilities, and bridges. International legal experts say Trump's threats against Iranian infrastructure could constitute war crimes under international law.

Russia and China's veto of the UN Security Council resolution

• ▪Russia and China vetoed a UN Security Council resolution aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz

Trump's threats and escalating Iran crisis

• ▪Donald Trump warned that a whole civilization will die tonight if a deal with Iran is not reached
• ▪Experts say Donald Trump's threatened destruction of Iran's power plants could be considered a war crime
• ▪Donald Trump threatened all of Iran's energy plants and bridges