DOHA, Qatar: During an economic forum in Qatar, Malaysia’s Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim, addressed allegations regarding ship-to-ship transfers of sanctioned Iranian oil off the Malaysian coast.
Anwar vehemently denied any involvement, stating that there was “not one shred of evidence” to support such claims. He directly refuted U.S. concerns about Iran’s oil movements through Malaysian service providers, highlighting Malaysia’s lack of capacity to monitor such activities in international waters.
Anwar’s remarks come in response to a senior U.S. Treasury official’s statement indicating that the United States views Malaysia as a potential facilitator for Iran’s oil transfers. Additionally, the U.S. is apprehensive about Malaysia potentially serving as a jurisdiction for fundraising and money movement by the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
Despite Malaysia’s historical support for the Palestinian cause and advocacy for a two-state solution, Anwar clarified that his meeting with Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh during his trip to Qatar did not involve discussions related to Hamas’s military operations. He emphasized that his interactions with Hamas have been confined to its political wing, disassociating himself from any involvement with the group’s military activities.
