Anwar says no evidence of ship-to-ship transfer of Iranian oil off Malaysia

DOHA (Qatar): Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim says there is "not one shred of evidence" of ship-to-ship transfers of sanctioned Iranian oil off Malaysia, amid U.S. concerns that Iran is using Malaysian service providers to move its oil.

A senior US Treasury official said last week that the United States saw Iran's capacity to move its oil as being reliant on providers in Malaysia.

That official also said the United States was trying to prevent Malaysia from becoming a jurisdiction where the Palestinian group Hamas could both fundraise and then move money.

Speaking at an economic forum in Qatar, the Prime Minister said Malaysia does not have the capacity to monitor ship-to-ship transfers in international waters.

Malaysia has long been a vocal supporter of the Palestinian cause and has advocated for a two-state solution to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.

Anwar during his trip met Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Qatar.

Anwar said that while he maintains good relations with the political wing of Hamas, he had no involvement with its military operations.

"I have no involvement or discussions with the military apparatus (of Hamas)," he said at the forum. – Reuters