KUALA LUMPUR, July 2 — Malaysia has expressed support for the newly reached understanding between the United States and Iran aimed at halting months of escalating hostilities. The nation also praised the diplomatic contributions of Gulf countries, Türkiye, Pakistan, and other international partners in facilitating the memorandum of understanding.

Speaking at the event, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim cautioned that the outlook for lasting peace remains delicate and highly susceptible to disruption. He emphasized that the immediate focus must shift toward strict compliance with all ceasefire conditions, alongside the urgent reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping lanes.

In his keynote address at the 39th Asia-Pacific Roundtable today, Anwar highlighted the severe global economic fallout of the conflict, noting that everyday citizens are bearing the financial brunt.

“Food and energy prices remain high as countries seek to secure supplies. Billions of dollars that could have been used for social and economic development have instead been diverted to securing essential goods,” he said.

“These are not mere statistics on paper; they impact livelihoods,” Anwar added.

The diplomatic breakthrough follows reports from Qatar indicating that Iran and the United States achieved “positive progress” during indirect negotiations that concluded on Wednesday. The discussions focused heavily on stabilizing the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime chokepoint that managed approximately one-fifth of the world’s oil supply prior to the outbreak of hostilities.

The three-day regional forum, which wrapped up today, was organized by the Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) Malaysia.

-NMT