No proof of Iran using Malaysia for oil transfers, says Anwar
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said there is “not one shred of evidence” to support allegations of ship-to-ship transfers of sanctioned Iranian oil off the coast of Malaysia.
This statement comes amid concerns raised by the United States that Iran is utilising Malaysian service providers to facilitate the movement of its oil.
During an economic forum in Qatar, Anwar addressed the claims made by US Treasury Undersecretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson last week, who suggested that Iran’s ability to transport its oil heavily relied on providers based in Malaysia.
“They (US) did not produce one shred of evidence of any transhipment in the international waters. We do not have the capacity to observe or monitor that,” he said.
Nelson had also mentioned that the US was attempting to prevent Malaysia from becoming a jurisdiction where the Palestinian group Hamas could engage in fundraising activities and money transfers.
Malaysia has historically been a vocal supporter of the Palestinian cause and has advocated for a two-state solution to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.
During his trip, Anwar met with Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Qatar.
However, Anwar clarified that while he maintains good relations with the political wing of Hamas, he has no involvement or discussions with the group’s military operations.
“I have no involvement or discussions with the military apparatus (of Hamas),” he stated at the forum.
The prime minister aimed to address the concerns raised by Nelson and reaffirm Malaysia’s stance on the Palestinian issue while distancing the country from any alleged involvement in facilitating Iranian oil transfers or supporting Hamas’ military activities.
Please join the Malaysiakini WhatsApp Channel to get the latest news and views that matter.
