KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians are advised against travelling to Iran as tensions rise between the country and the US, which could escalate into a full-blown war.
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said officers from the Malaysian Embassy in Tehran and their families have returned to Malaysia.
“There aren’t many Malaysians there. There are 13 Malaysians of which two to three are students. We advised them to return several times including when the US struck the nuclear sites last year, but they refused to return,” he said during Minister Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat on Thursday (Feb 26).
“We have asked them to sign a letter of indemnity so they cannot blame the government if anything happens,” he added.
He said despite Wisma Putra issuing travel advisories twice, some Malaysians still travelled to the country.
“Malaysians are stubborn. Some have recently travelled there (despite the warning). But they had to cut their trip short from one week to two days.
"Do not go there as at this stage anything can happen," he said.
Recounting previous evacuation operations when Iranian nuclear sites were bombed, he said affected Malaysians had to travel more than 1,000km through land to get to Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.
“I requested my counterpart in Turkmenistan to provide a visa exemption for the Malaysians, Singaporeans, and Bruneians for the evacuation. We were the Asean chair then. The stayed in Ashgabat for a day and was brought to Dubai from where they returned.
“So do not go to Iran. If it is a pressing matter, please meet in neighbouring countries whether in Doha or Dubai,” he said.
He was responding to a supplementary question by Datuk Khlir Mohd Nor (PN-Ketereh) on the evacuation plans and the number of Malaysians who are still there.
Khlir had also asked for the government’s assessment of the situation and its implications on regional security.
Mohamad said Malaysia too will be impacted if a full blown war breaks out.
“It will cause a huge impact not only to Iran but the Middle East and the world, especially Malaysia. Even the war is there, there will be restrictions as the Persian Gulf and the Hormuz Straits will be closed. The world’s energy supplies will be disrupted.
“This will reduce oil and gas supply and commodities prices including oil and gas will skyrocket,” he said, adding that food and mineral supplies will be affected.
He said there will be direct and indirect impact on Malaysia.
Iran is the world’s second largest oil producer.
“We hope both parties will continue negotiations and we hope the conflict can be reduced and the world’s economy will not be impacted,” he said.
Tehran and Washington officials are due to meet in Geneva on Thursday for a third round of indirect talks. This comes after US President Donald Trump threatened to strike Iran if a nuclear deal is not reached.
