According to a top government official, Malaysia will disregard economic sanctions imposed by the United States or any other individual country. This comes after claims from U.S. officials that Iran was using Malaysian service providers to sell U.S.-sanctioned oil in the region.
During a meeting in Kuala Lumpur with Brian Nelson, the U.S. Treasury Department’s top sanctions official, Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail asserted Malaysia’s stance on sanctions. He stated that Malaysia will only acknowledge sanctions imposed by the United Nations Security Council and not by any individual country. The U.S. delegation respected Malaysia’s position.
This week, a delegation led by Nelson and Neil MacBride from the U.S. Treasury Department visited Malaysia and Singapore to address concerns about Iran using Malaysian entities to finance militant groups. The U.S. government had observed an increase in money flowing to Iran and its partners through Malaysian financial systems, leading to discussions about those concerns.
In a media statement after the meeting, Nelson expressed concerns about ship-to-ship transfers of sanctioned Iranian oil off Malaysia’s coast. Saifuddin reiterated Malaysia’s commitment to combating terrorism financing and affirmed the country’s clear strategic plan to tackle illicit financing and money laundering activities.
Malaysia’s strong stance on sanctions reflects its resistance to U.S. pressure regarding the Israel-Palestine conflict. The government’s support for the Palestinian cause is widely acknowledged, with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s administration openly criticizing Israel’s actions. Malaysia’s close relations with Hamas also play a role in its stance towards the conflict.
The challenges faced by the U.S. in influencing global opinions on the conflict are evident, especially in light of Malaysia’s firm position. Calls for Israel to accept a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza have been made to potentially influence Malaysia’s stance on Iran.