ISLAMABAD: Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Wednesday that he welcomes Pakistan’s offer to host dialogue between the United States and Iran, calling it “timely and constructive.”
“I welcome Pakistan’s timely and constructive offer to host dialogue between the United States and Iran,” he said in a post on X.
“I commend Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the leaders of other friendly nations for stepping forward at a moment of acute regional danger, following the earlier commendable efforts of the leadership of Oman and other friendly countries.”
‘Credible voice’
He added that “Pakistan’s relationships with the relevant parties, and its standing as a credible voice in the Muslim world, place it in a strong position to help create the conditions for meaningful negotiations.”
The Malaysian leader said his country supports the initiative and urged both Washington and Tehran to respond positively.
“Malaysia supports this initiative and encourages in particular the United States and Iran to respond in the spirit in which it was offered,” he said.
“I note with cautious hope the signals, however incomplete, that suggest some space for diplomacy may still exist. That space should be treated with the seriousness it deserves.”
Ibrahim stressed that negotiations must be genuine.
‘Genuine intent’
“Any negotiation must proceed on the basis of genuine intent: a clear commitment to ending the conflict, not managing its tempo for tactical advantage,” he said.
“The international community has seen too many ceasefires that function as pauses rather than conclusions. The region deserves something more durable.”
Malaysia, Ibrahim said, “reaffirms Iran’s right to defend its sovereignty, as recognised under international law, particularly in the face of continued Israeli strikes in the country and in Lebanon.”
‘Maximum restraint’
He also called “on all parties to exercise maximum restraint and to ensure that civilian populations and the infrastructure of neighbouring states, namely the Gulf states, are not drawn further into a conflict they did not choose.”
“The Gulf states, the region and the world have much at stake — economically, socially and in terms of long-term stability — and their peoples must not bear the consequences of decisions taken elsewhere,” he added.
Ibrahim also raised concerns about the application of international law.
“It is also a matter of concern that some of the strongest advocates of the rules-based international order appear to apply it unevenly. International law cannot be invoked selectively. It cannot shield one party from accountability while denying another its inherent right to self-defence. Its credibility depends on consistency.”
Ibrahim said he had recently engaged with multiple international partners.
“In recent days, I have held discussions with leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Türkiye, Egypt, Indonesia, Japan, Pakistan and other partners to better understand the situation and to advocate for de-escalation,” he said.
“Malaysia will continue to support every credible effort towards a just and lasting peace,” the Malaysian prime minister concluded.
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