TENGKU NOOR SHAMSIAH TENGKU ABDULLAH
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 27 – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has called on the United States and Iran to exercise restraint and return to diplomatic channels, warning that the mounting tensions between the two nations risk tipping the region into open conflict with devastating global consequences.
In a statement posted across his social media platforms on Tuesday (Jan 27), Anwar expressed grave concern over the concentration of military assets and increasingly hardline rhetoric that has narrowed the space for de-escalation at a critical juncture.
“We view with grave concern the mounting tensions between the United States and Iran, and the growing risk that an already volatile situation could tip into open conflict,” the Prime Minister said. “The concentration of military assets and increasingly absolutist public rhetoric have narrowed the space for restraint at precisely the moment when it is most needed.”
Anwar warned that any military confrontation between Washington and Tehran would have severe repercussions across an already fragile Middle East, with risks extending far beyond the immediate region through proxy escalation, maritime insecurity, and economic shocks.
“No strategic interest could justify such human and material devastation,” he emphasized.
Background: Rising Tensions in the Gulf
The statement comes amid escalating military posturing between the US and Iran, with Washington reportedly deploying additional naval assets to the region. The situation has been characterized by increasingly confrontational public statements from both sides, raising fears of miscalculation that could trigger direct military engagement.
The US-Iran tensions have roots in decades of fraught relations, including disputes over Iran’s nuclear programme, Tehran’s support for regional proxy forces, and American sanctions. Ties between both countries have deteriorated in recent weeks amid heightened military deployments, renewed sanctions pressure and sharp public exchanges, raising concerns that misjudgment could trigger a broader regional confrontation.
The situation is further complicated by ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, with strategic chokepoints such as the Strait of Hormuz remaining highly vulnerable to️— a development that could disrupt global energy markets, supply chains and economic stability.
Malaysia has consistently advocated multilateralism, dialogue and respect for international law, positioning itself as a moderating voice within ASEAN and the wider international community at a time of escalating geopolitical uncertainty.
Recent developments have seen both nations adopt more aggressive stances, with military buildups and hostile rhetoric intensifying concerns among regional and international observers.
Call for Diplomatic De-escalation
The Malaysian leader stressed that the imperative of peace must prevail over all other considerations, urging all parties to step back from confrontation and recommit to diplomacy with urgency.
“Channels of communication must be used to their fullest extent,” Anwar stated, commending Oman’s constructive efforts to facilitate dialogue and reduce tensions.
Malaysia has called on all countries with influence over the situation to use every available means to encourage de-escalation and exercise maximum restraint in the interest of regional and international stability.
The Prime Minister’s statement reflects Malaysia’s consistent position as a moderate voice in international affairs and its commitment to peaceful conflict resolution, particularly in matters affecting the Muslim world and global economic stability.
As a nation dependent on stable maritime trade routes and global energy markets, Malaysia has a strategic interest in preventing any conflict that could disrupt shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant portion of the world’s oil supply passes.
— TNS NEWS