Anwar urges talks as strike kills Iran’s leader
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- Anwar Ibrahim urged the United States and Iran to pursue a diplomatic off‑ramp and warned the Middle East was at the edge of catastrophe after Israeli and US strikes, in a statement on Feb 28.
- Prabowo Subianto said he was prepared to travel to Tehran to conduct mediation if both the United States and Iran agreed.
- Indonesia Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on all parties to exercise restraint, respect sovereignty, and resolve differences through peaceful dialogue and diplomacy.
- Anutin Charnvirakul expressed gravely concern and called for immediate de‑escalation through dialogue in a Facebook post on Saturday.
- Pham Thu Hang urged maximum restraint, an end to escalatory actions, and protection of civilians, citing international law and UN resolutions.
- United States and Israel launched a wave of strikes against Iranian cities on Saturday, sending columns of smoke over Tehran.
- IRNA confirmed on Sunday that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several family members were killed in the strikes.
Why it matters: The diplomatic overture gives Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam a chance to shape de‑escalation, potentially protecting their nationals and regional stability, while the US‑Israel strikes and the killing of Khamenei heighten the risk of broader conflict that could engulf the Middle East and disrupt trade routes.
