PM to visit Tehran at ‘appropriate time’

PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim says he will arrange a visit to Tehran following a phone call with Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian.

Anwar said during the call, he had expressed gratitude for Iran’s role in facilitating the release of another Malaysian vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, and voiced hope that the country would soon return to peace.

He also reiterated Malaysia’s condemnation of drone strikes and military action by Israel and the US.

According to Anwar, Pezeshkian, in turn, thanked Malaysia for its consistent stand on peace and humanitarian principles, and invited him to visit Tehran to strengthen bilateral and strategic ties.

“God willing, I will arrange to visit Iran at an appropriate time,” Anwar said in a social media posting, without giving a timeline.

“Iran is always close to my heart, especially as I have many friends and acquaintances there who continue to uphold the values of knowledge, brotherhood and universal humanitarian struggle.”

Malaysia has previously sent foreign ministers and deputy prime ministers to the Iranian capital, though no Malaysian prime minister is known to have made an official visit.

Ties between Malaysia and Iran have come into sharper focus in recent months after seven Malaysian vessels were stranded in the Strait of Hormuz, which has been mostly closed off following US and Israeli strikes in late February.

Anwar said in March that Iran would allow Malaysian vessels to pass through the strait after holding talks with Iranian officials.

Four vessels have so far cleared the Strait of Hormuz.

المصدر: Free Malaysia Today