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UNITED NATIONS — <\/span>Bahrain has significantly watered down<\/a> a proposed U.N. resolution on reopening the Strait of Hormuz<\/a> amid opposition from China and Russia about allowing countries to use force to secure the critical waterway<\/a> Iran has largely cut off to global shipping.<\/p>\n The final draft of the proposal, obtained Thursday by The Associated Press, authorizes defensive \u2014 but not offensive \u2014 action to ensure vessels can safely transit the strait. One-fifth of the world\u2019s oil typically passes through the waterway, where Iran\u2019s stranglehold during the war<\/a> has sent energy prices soaring<\/a>.<\/p>\n Bahrain\u2019s initial draft would have allowed countries \u201cto use all necessary means\u201d \u2014 U.N. language that would include possible military action \u2014 \u201cin the Strait of Hormuz, the Gulf and the Gulf of Oman\u201d to secure passage and deter attempts to interfere with navigation. <\/p>\n Russia, China and France, all veto-wielding countries on the 15-member Security Council, had expressed opposition to approving the use of force. The final draft eliminates any reference to allowing offensive military action.<\/p>\n The Security Council originally scheduled a vote on the resolution for Friday, which is a U.N. holiday for Good Friday. But it later canceled that meeting, and U.N. diplomats, who spoke on condition of anonymity to preview the new timing before it has been announced, said the vote was now expected to be held Saturday.<\/p>\n The three countries\u2019 views on the changes are not known, so the vote will be closely watched, and the delay will give diplomats more time to avoid a veto.<\/p>\n The proposal now authorizes countries \u201cto use all defensive means necessary and commensurate with the circumstances in the Strait of Hormuz and adjacent waters\u201d to secure passage<\/a> and deter attempts to interfere with international navigation \u201cfor a period of at least six months.\u201d<\/p>\n It says countries acting alone on in \u201cmultinational naval partnerships\u201d can take defensive means provided advance notification is given to the Security Council.<\/p>\n It comes after U.S. President Donald Trump said in an address<\/a> Wednesday that America and Israel will continue to bomb Iran \u201cextremely hard\u201d over the next two to three weeks but gave no definitive end date for the conflict<\/a>. Iran has kept up retailatory attacks in the region and its chokehold on the strait has been a pain point<\/a> for Trump and the world as rising energy prices roil the global economy<\/a>.<\/p>\n Before Bahrain released its final draft, Russia\u2019s U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said the proposal \u201cdoes not solve the puzzle.\u201d He said what would do so is ending the hostilities. <\/p>\n China\u2019s U.N. Ambassador Fu Cong opposed the original draft\u2019s authorization for the use of force, calling it \u201cunlawful and indiscriminate.\u201d Speaking to the council earlier Thursday, he warned that it \u201cwould inevitably lead to further escalation of the situation and lead to serious consequences.\u201d He urged the council \u201cto proceed with caution\u201d and actively work for de-escalation and dialogue.<\/p>\n France\u2019s U.N. Ambassador J\u00e9r\u00f4me Bonnafont also called for de-escalation, telling the council that \u201cdefensive measures that avoid any broad use of force need to be promoted.\u201d He later indicated that the new draft focusing on defense might be acceptable.<\/p>\n