Malaysia says Iranian president granted passage for oil tankers through Strait of Hormuz

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim stated on Thursday that Malaysian oil tankers will be allowed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Anwar thanked Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian for granting the permission, according to state-run news agency Bernama. "Now we are in the process of releasing the Malaysian oil tankers and the workers involved so that they can continue their journey home," he said in a special address broadcast live on local television.

Trust issues

"However, it is not easy as Iran believes it has been deceived repeatedly and finds it difficult to accept moves towards peace without binding agreements and security guarantees for the country," Anwar said. The Malaysian leader's comments underscore the challenges facing diplomatic efforts to resolve the standoff that has effectively closed the strategic waterway since early March.

Regional impact

The Malaysian prime minister said the repercussions have also spread to Lebanon, where "more than one million people have lost their homes and property." "And do not forget, the root cause involving Palestine and Gaza remains unresolved, and the disaster has only worsened their suffering," he added.

Diplomatic efforts

Anwar said that Kuala Lumpur will continue to play an active role in supporting regional peace efforts. He said Kuala Lumpur has taken a "firm stance against the injustices, oppression and aggression carried out by Israel and the United States," but noted that the situation has become more complex as Iran's response affects not only Israel but also Gulf countries. Anwar also said he had earlier spoken with Pezeshkian and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to discuss the tensions, and held a phone call earlier Thursday with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for the third time to discuss Islamabad's efforts to seek peace in the region.

Conflict context

The Strait of Hormuz has been effectively disrupted since early March. Around 20 million barrels of oil normally pass through it daily, and its disruption has driven up shipping costs and pushed global oil prices higher. Regional escalation has continued since the US and Israel launched a joint offensive on Iran on Feb. 28, killing more than 1,340 people, including former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, as well as Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military assets.