Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has firmly denied any evidence of ship-to-ship transfers of sanctioned Iranian oil off the country’s coasts, refuting recent claims by a senior U.S. Treasury official.
Speaking at an economic forum in Qatar, Anwar stated that Malaysia does not have the capacity to monitor such activities in international waters, adding that there is “not one shred of evidence” to support the allegations.
The U.S. Treasury official had previously suggested that Iran’s ability to move its oil was reliant on service providers in Malaysia, and that the United States was trying to prevent Malaysia from becoming a jurisdiction where the Palestinian militant group Hamas could both fundraise and move money.
Anwar acknowledged that Malaysia maintains good relations with the political wing of Hamas, but he stressed that he has had no involvement with the group’s military operations. “I have no involvement or discussions with the military apparatus (of Hamas),” he said.
Malaysia, a Muslim-majority country, has long been a vocal supporter of the Palestinian cause and has advocated for a two-state solution to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. Anwar’s meeting with Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Qatar underscores the country’s continued commitment to the Palestinian issue.
Despite the U.S. concerns, Anwar firmly rejected any suggestion of Malaysia’s involvement in facilitating the movement of Iranian oil or Hamas’ financial activities, stating that the country lacks the necessary monitoring capabilities in international waters.