ISTANBUL

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Monday extended his country's support to "credible efforts" toward cessation of mounting hostilities in the Middle East amid the US-Israel offensive on Iran and Tehran's counterattacks.

"Malaysia stands ready to support any credible effort toward a negotiated cessation of hostilities," Anwar said in a statement on US social media platform X.

He called on the international community to act with "urgency and purpose" before this conflict claims "yet more lives and pulls yet more nations into its wake."

"In line with the principled bipartisan stand taken by the Malaysian Parliament, I am encouraged by calls of restraint that have emerged from the highest levels in Iran amid the continuing conflict across the Gulf and wider West Asia," he further said.

Anwar was apparently referring to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian's apology for Tehran's attacks on its neighbors, promising restraint unless their territory was used to strike Iran.

"They (restrain calls) deserve to be taken seriously and honored," he maintained.

Yet the situation remains deeply alarming, Anwar observed, adding that Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have faced repeated attacks.

"Energy facilities, water installations, and other infrastructure that millions depend on for daily life have been hit," he went on to say.

The world’s oil and shipping routes run through these waters, he said, noting: "Disruption here carries consequences far beyond the region."

"There will always be voices urging a harder line, but history has rarely been kind to those who chose escalation over negotiation when the door to dialogue was still open," Anwar said.

"Keeping it open takes real courage."

India seeks 'peace'

Separately, Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar said India is in "favor of peace" and urges a "return to dialogue and diplomacy," to bring an end to the mounting crisis.

"We advocate de-escalation, restraint and ensuring the safety of civilians," he told parliament, adding: "We will continue to work with the governments of the region towards that end."

He said that Tehran had asked on Feb. 28 for three Iranian ships in the region to dock at Indian ports. New Delhi allowed and the crew of the last one, IRIS Lavan, which docked in southern Kochi port, was still in Indian naval facilities.

The statement from New Delhi came days after a US submarine last Wednesday attacked an Iranian warship, IRIS Dena, in waters off India, killing 104 sailors and wounding 32 others, who were rescued by the joint forces of Sri Lanka.

Later, Sri Lanka decided to evacuate the second Iranian vessel, IRIS Bushehr.

Both the Iranian vessels were returning from the Milan Peace 2026 naval drills in India.

Regional escalation flared up since Israel and the US launched a joint attack on Iran on Feb. 28, killing more than 1,250 people, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, and injuring over 12,000 others, according to Iranian authorities.

Tehran retaliated with missile and drone attacks targeting Israel, Iraq, Jordan and Gulf countries that are home to US military assets.

At least three Bangladeshis, two each from Pakistan and India, and one each from China and Nepal have been killed in the ongoing Middle East conflict.

Three Indonesians went missing after a UAE-flagged tugboat sank in the Strait of Hormuz on Friday.