PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia has urged Iran to ensure that retaliatory strikes on Israel do not spill over to neighbouring countries.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who recently spoke to the Iranian Foreign Minister, said Malaysia urged Iran to focus its attacks.
"I proposed that Iran pays attention so its attacks do not hit its neighbours and instead focus on Israel.
"Thank you to the Iranian President and his Foreign Minister for giving a stern guarantee that they will try to avoid hitting their neighbours," he said during a special press conference at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) on Wednesday (March 11).
Anwar said he conveyed his deepest condolences to Iran over the death of its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Hosseini Khamenei.
Anwar also said he had contacted Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, nearly all the leaders of Gulf countries as well as Turkiye.
"We have expressed concerns and worries because of tensions between Iran and a few neighbouring countries," he added.
He said the ongoing developments in the Middle East was discussed at the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday (March 11).
"Due to attacks by Israeli together with the United States, it has spilled over to many Gulf countries, including Turkiye, Azerbaijian and Saudi Arabia.
"It has become a larger war and it is no longer confined to selected nations," said Anwar.
As of March 11, Brent crude oil price dropped to US$91 per litre after surging past US$100 per barrel on Monday morning.
The price drop came following US President Donald Trump's remark that the US-Israel war with Iran is "very complete".
The Strait of Hormuz has been closed off due to the ongoing conflict.
The strait is the only sea passage from the Gulf.
It is estimated that 20% of the world's oil supply passes through these waters.
