SHAH ALAM, May 16 — Iran has assured the safety of Malaysian vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz, with no restrictions imposed on the country’s shipping route in the strategic waterway.
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said Malaysian ships have not encountered any problems while navigating the route, thanks to the strong cooperation extended by Tehran, Astro Awani reported.
According to him, the main issue at present is extraordinary congestion caused by the large number of vessels waiting to pass through the strait, resulting in delays and financial losses for shipping companies.
“Malaysian ships are not facing any issues, but the sheer number of vessels is causing losses when some become stranded and delayed, as they require more time to pass through the Strait of Hormuz,” he said at a press conference in New Delhi, India, yesterday.
He said Malaysia remains in constant communication with Iranian authorities to ensure the continued safety of the country’s shipping route.
“We are in contact with Tehran and they have already given the green light, but those instructions must also be conveyed to commanders on the ground to avoid any communication gap,” he said.
Mohamad added that Malaysia wants to avoid any ‘friendly fire’ incidents that could trigger bigger security issues for the country’s vessels.
However, he noted that several areas are still considered dangerous, while the fact that some vessels do not sail under the Malaysian flag also requires closer attention from the authorities.
Speaking on the sidelines of the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the Strait of Hormuz remains closed to Tehran’s enemies.
However, he said ships from friendly nations, including Malaysia, would still be allowed safe passage through the route.
Last March, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said Iran would allow Malaysian ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz following discussions with the country’s officials.
