WHAT have we learnt one month into American-Israeli aggression against Iran?
Iran responded by launching attacks on Israel and US-allied states in the Gulf, and imposing a blockade on the Strait of Hormuz, triggering immediate and severe disruptions across global energy markets. About 20% of the world’s petroleum and nearly a fifth of global liquefied natural gas (LNG) are carried through it.
Amid all this, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, confirmed that Islamabad is relaying messages between US and Iranian officials as part of mediation efforts to end the conflict.
On the home front, both Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan have contacted their foreign counterparts in these past weeks to get first-hand information on the latest developments. We need to keep any and all dialogue alive.
Mohamad, on his part, has been in touch with his counterparts in the Middle East, including in Bahrain, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates, in addition to Pakistan. His Asean colleagues are also on his list.
On Tuesday he spoke with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi.
“I called him and said Malaysia wants to do so much, but what can we do? We are a small country. We try our best and talk to all sides,” Mohamad shared.
A special Asean Foreign Ministers meeting was held online on March 13. The ministers expressed “serious concern” over the escalation of conflict in the Middle East following the attacks initiated by Israel and the US against Iran and the Israeli attack on Lebanon, and the subsequent retaliatory attacks by Iran against several countries in the region.
Mohamad, in reaching out to several of his Asean colleagues, has proposed calling for an emergency meeting of Asean Foreign Ministers.
Mohamad feels that Asean has been “rather quiet” despite the escalation of the conflict and its serious implications. In conversations with colleagues, he has said he feels that Asean should come up with a united position.
“Asean must make a clear and united pronouncement about this war. Iran is a sovereign state being attacked, and aggression towards a sovereign state is against international law and the basic principles of the United Nations Charter,” Mohamad said.
An Asean diplomat said a member state can take the initiative to prompt the Asean Chair, held by the Philippines this year, by providing input for consideration by all Asean member states before issuing an Asean statement.
“A member state can provide some points for the Chair to consider and come out with a draft, which can be circulated to member states, giving them time to consider.
“Certain member states may have red lines when it comes to the Middle East, but we can always take into account what is the minimum position that all Asean countries can go on. We have done this before,” the diplomat said.
Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr announced on Friday that the Asean summit will happen in May as scheduled but it will be shortened, with a bare bones programme focusing on addressing issues like fuel supplies, food prices, and migrant workers.
The Philippines, already feeling the shock of the Middle Eastern conflict, declared a national energy emergency on Tuesday.
As the world grapples with the impact of the conflict, especially on energy, Anwar announced that Iran has granted early clearance for the release of Malaysian oil tankers.
“We are in the process of securing the release of the Malaysian oil tankers and the workers involved so they can continue their journey home,” Anwar said during a televised address to the nation on Thursday.
We understand several Asean countries have asked for continuity in the supply of petroleum products from Malaysia.
“They are asking us not to stop because they know we can invoke force majeure in certain situations,” said an official.
This conflict is already causing damage around the world, with higher oil prices leading to an increase in food prices and, hence, higher inflation. What is worrying is that Malaysia depends a lot on imported food.
Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu told Parliament in November 2025 that Malaysia remains heavily dependent on imported food despite improvements in local production.
He had said import dependency remained high for rice, chicken, and several types of vegetables, underlining the country’s continued reliance on foreign food sources.
Even if a ceasefire is achieved anytime soon, which is doubtful with current developments, it will take time for the global economy to recover.
According to reports, Iranian attacks have knocked out 17% of Qatar’s LNG export capacity, causing an estimated US$20bil (RM78.6bil) in lost annual revenue and threatening supplies to Europe and Asia.
Trump, said a foreign observer, is desperate to end Iran’s stranglehold on the Strait of Hormuz and find a face-saving exit.
“Maybe tactically he’s trying to buy time until the US’ ground troops and further reinforcements arrive in the region and the US and Israel escalate the war to the next phase.
“Israel does not want peace. Trump is inconsistent and untrustworthy. How do you expect Iran to trust the US when twice before the US and Israel attacked Iran while negotiations were underway?
“But what can we do, Trump is the most powerful man on earth, or maybe the second after Benjamin Netanyahu,” the observer said.
This is not about winning or losing a conflict. It is about the world in trouble and the implications and economic pressures of this conflict.
