Tehran: Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim have jointly called for urgent collective action among Muslim nations to halt Israel’s ongoing campaign in Gaza, describing it as genocidal.
In a phone conversation on Wednesday, President Pezeshkian stressed the importance of Islamic solidarity, condemning the “atrocities committed by the Zionist regime” and urging Muslim countries to exert active diplomatic pressure to stop further crimes. He reaffirmed Iran’s longstanding support for the Palestinian people and called for stronger engagement from other Islamic states.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim echoed this stance, highlighting Malaysia’s condemnation of Israel’s actions and its diplomatic efforts to end the violence. He expressed hope that cooperation among Muslim nations would be key to preventing further atrocities.
The leaders also discussed strengthening bilateral ties, noting a 24.6% rise in trade between Iran and Malaysia in 2024, reaching RM2.6 billion (USD 570 million). Iran ranks as Malaysia’s seventh-largest trading partner in West Asia, with cooperation expanding in sectors like medical tourism, agriculture, and defense technology.
The call for solidarity comes amid a worsening humanitarian disaster in Gaza. Since October 2023, over 60,000 Palestinians, including 25,000 children, have been killed. Famine, driven by Israeli blockade tactics, has claimed more than 180 lives, with UN experts labeling these tactics as deliberate war crimes.
Around 85% of Gaza’s population is displaced, with healthcare infrastructure systematically destroyed and aid convoys blocked, severely limiting relief efforts.
