UN Security Council on Gulf maritime security: UK backs Gulf states, says Strait of Hormuz “must be reopened”

The UN Security Council met on 13 November at the request of Bahrain to discuss threats to maritime security in the Gulf, with Gulf states blaming Iran and its Houthi allies for attacks, according to the United Nations press service. The UN summary framed the session as one of “competing” Gulf and Iranian narratives.

The United Kingdom used its turn to side firmly with the Gulf states. In a statement delivered at the Council and published by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, UK Permanent Representative Sarah MacIntosh said countries in the Gulf and the wider region “have faced repeated Iranian attacks” during 2026, aimed at civilian areas, critical infrastructure and economic assets.

What the UK said about Hormuz

MacIntosh said the Strait of Hormuz “must be reopened” so that shipping and seafarers can pass safely, in line with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. She described the disruption to maritime routes as having consequences far beyond the region for trade, energy and food security, and said the most vulnerable were bearing the greatest cost.

She pointed to Security Council Resolution 2817, saying it had sent a clear message that the attacks must stop and that navigational rights and freedoms must be respected. The UK, she said, condemns what she called Iran’s attempts to hold the global economy to ransom, while commending mediators, including Qatar, who are working to avoid further escalation and to reach a negotiated settlement. London, she added, remains committed to diplomacy as the only route to a sustainable solution and will continue to give practical support to strengthen Gulf partners’ defences.

The British ambassador also warned that recent attacks by Iranian-aligned groups in Iraq risk triggering a spiralling regional conflict, and said Iran must cease its support for such activity.

Yemen: the UK statement on the Houthis

On Yemen, MacIntosh said the Houthis’ decision to resume fighting had deepened an already grave humanitarian crisis. She cited renewed fighting that she said had displaced more than 340,000 people, and a Houthi siege of Taiz that she said had pushed food prices up by at least 50% and left hospitals short of fuel and medicine. These are figures given by the UK representative in her speech, not independently verified in the sources read here.

She said the UK was appalled by the death of UN employee Mohammad al-Shami in Houthi detention, echoed the Secretary-General’s call for an immediate and impartial investigation, and demanded the immediate and unconditional release of UN, humanitarian, civil society and diplomatic personnel held by the group. The UK also expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia and the internationally recognised Government of Yemen, reaffirming their right to defend their security and sovereignty under international law, and called on the Houthis to halt their offensives immediately.

Context

The meeting comes days after the Council adopted Resolution 2837 renewing Yemen sanctions and targeting Houthi weapons supply (see our report UN Security Council adopts Resolution 2837 renewing Yemen sanctions for a year and targeting Houthi weapons supply), and G7 foreign ministers called on Iran to stop attacks on ships (see G7: Foreign ministers call on Iran to stop attacks on ships in Hormuz and insist on Hezbollah’s disarmament).

The UN press page for the session was not readable from here beyond its summary line, so Iran’s own statement at the Council is not reproduced; the positions above are those of the UK delegation as published by the FCDO.