KUALA LUMPUR: The United States and Iran should pursue a diplomatic off-ramp rather than further escalation, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The Prime Minister also called on the international community to act with urgency and without double standards.
Anwar said an immediate and unconditional cessation of hostilities is imperative.
“The Israeli strikes on Iran and the American military action that has accompanied them bring the Middle East to the edge of catastrophe.
“Israel’s initiation of these strikes was a vile attempt to sabotage ongoing negotiations and to drag other nations into a conflict that could prove impossible to contain,” he said in a statement on Facebook, Bernama reported.
The Prime Minister also expressed his concerns over the safety of Malaysians in Iran and elsewhere in the region, adding that the government will be in touch with regional partners on the next move.
Yesterday, tensions in the Middle East escalated sharply as the United States and Israel launched attacks against Iran with Israel describing it as a “pre-emptive strike” against its arch-enemy to eliminate threats.
The strikes came after the United States significantly increased its military build-up in the region to pressure Teheran to scale down its nuclear programme, and following a crackdown in Iran on widespread protests.
Later, while attending the breaking of fast programme at Seri Perdana with the Higher Education Ministry and Education Ministry yesterday, Anwar said students must embrace change and strengthen their pursuit of knowledge as the demands of the modern era require resilience and moral grounding.
“We have no choice. If we wish to progress, we must accept the reality that we cannot remain at the old level.
“Our ways of thinking, working, learning and moving must keep pace with the speed of the times,” he said in his address.
Anwar also said Malaysia is taking unprecedented steps to combat corruption, signalling a new era of accountability and transparency in the government.
He added that the government is determined to protect public wealth and ensure that no one, regardless of rank, is above the law.
He said it was still too early to determine the full economic impact following the military action on Iran by Israel and the United States but acknowledged that the situation warranted close monitoring.
“We need to wait for official statements. The Prime Minister has issued a statement on his social media platform and Wisma Putra will also state Malaysia’s position on the matter,” he said after attending a Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia community programme at PPR Sri Stulang in Johor Baru yesterday.
From an economic standpoint, Akmal Nasrullah said two key areas would require attention – Malaysia’s direct economic ties with Iran and the broader geopolitical implications on the global economy.
He noted that geopolitical risks had been identified as one of the main challenges heading into 2026, particularly amid global uncertainties.
“However, one of the areas that will be evaluated is oil and gas production as Iran plays a role regionally and globally,” he said.
The minister added that the ripple effects on the overall global supply chain would also need to be examined, given the interconnected nature of international trade and energy markets.
