Malaysia Welcomes US-Iran Ceasefire Agreement

PUTRAJAYA, April 8 -- Malaysia welcomes the two-week ceasefire agreement reached between the United States (US) and Iran, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement Wednesday.  It said the significant development serves as a crucial step towards de-escalating tensions and restoring much-needed peace and stability to the West Asia region. Malaysia has urged all parties to fully respect and implement all terms of the ceasefire in good faith to prevent any return to hostilities.  It also urged all parties to avoid any provocative actions or unilateral measures that could negatively impact the fragile stability of the region or jeopardise global economic and energy security. “Malaysia expresses its appreciation to all parties involved in the diplomatic efforts and mediations that led to this agreement.  “This breakthrough demonstrates that diplomacy remains the only viable path to resolving long-standing conflicts and ensuring long-term regional security,” the ministry said. All the respective parties should use this window of opportunity to continue their dialogue toward a durable, comprehensive, and peaceful settlement to their differences, it added.  “Malaysia calls upon the international community to support these peace efforts and contribute toward a just and lasting resolution that ensures the safety and well-being of all peoples in the region,” the statement read.  US President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced a two-week suspension of military operations against Iran following a mediation brokered by Pakistan. In response, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Supreme National Security Council declared that Tehran would cease defensive operations if attacks on the country is halted. According to reports, negotiation between the parties involved is expected to take place in Islamabad on Friday. -- BERNAMA 

PUTRAJAYA, April 8 — Malaysia welcomes the two-week ceasefire agreement reached between the United States (US) and Iran, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement Wednesday. It said the significant development serves as a crucial step towards de-escalating tensions and restoring much-needed peace and stability to the West Asia region. Malaysia has urged all parties […]

Trump agrees to suspend attacks on Iran for two weeks

WASHINGTON: United States President (Donald Trump) claims to have agreed to suspend military strikes against Iran for a period of two weeks, subject to the full and safe opening of the Strait of Hormuz by the Islamic Republic. Trump announced the matter through a post on social media on Wednesday, following his conversation with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir. According to Trump, the decision was also made at the request of the Pakistani leadership for the United States to postpone the "use of destructive force" that was allegedly planned against Iran that same night. "This will be a bilateral ceasefire," Trump said, noting that the United States had achieved all of its military objectives. In the same statement, Trump also claimed that negotiations towards a long-term peace agreement between Washington and Tehran are now in the final stages. He said Iran had submitted a proposal of 10 points that were considered to have a solid basis for finalization, besides claiming that most of the past issues of dispute between the two countries had been agreed upon. Trump added that the two-week period was needed to finalize the agreement to ensure peace not only between the United States and Iran, but also stability in West Asia. However, so far, no official confirmation has been issued by Iran or US government agencies regarding the allegations. --ASTRO AWANI

WASHINGTON: United States President (Donald Trump) claims to have agreed to suspend military strikes against Iran for a period of two weeks, subject to the full and safe opening of the Strait of Hormuz by the Islamic Republic. Trump announced the matter through a post on social media on Wednesday, following his conversation with Pakistani […]

Trump repeats criticism of Japan, South Korea for not helping in Iran war

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump on Monday repeated criticism of Japan, South Korea, Australia and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) for not providing naval assistance to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Kyodo reported that during a press conference at the White House, Trump complained that Japan and South Korea were “not helping” despite the presence of tens of thousands of US troops in both countries to protect them from North Korea, which he said has “many nuclear weapons.” Trump's suggestion that US military support for the two key allies in Asia, as well as Australia, should be reciprocated, came after he once again described NATO as cowardly. Instead, Trump praised several countries in West Asia including Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia as "good" partners to the United States since the country and Israel launched the war on Feb. 28. While repeating his threats against Iran, Trump insisted that the United States had already won the war militarily. He said unless Tehran reaches a deal with Washington, Iran's critical infrastructure could be destroyed within four hours. Trump set Tuesday at 8pm in Washington as a deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway vital to global oil supplies. Tehran has largely blocked the strait since the war began, affecting energy markets. Reopening the shipping lanes, Trump said, is a "huge priority." "We have to have an agreement that I can accept and part of that agreement is that we want free passage for oil and everything." "(Otherwise,) we have a plan due to our military strength, with every bridge in Iran being completely destroyed by 12 midnight tomorrow, and every power plant in Iran being crippled, burning, exploding, and no longer usable," he said. Speaking with US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director John Ratcliffe, the president said the United States was actually more willing to not destroy Iran's critical infrastructure. “It would take them 100 years to rebuild now. "If we leave today, it will take them 20 years to rebuild their country, and it will not be as good as before. "The only way they can rebuild their country is by leveraging the ingenuity of the United States," Trump said. Earlier in the day, Iran's official news agency, IRNA, said the country wanted a permanent end to the war, not a ceasefire. Rejecting Washington's 15-point ceasefire proposal, which the news agency said was conveyed through Pakistan, Iran presented its own 10-point plan, including a framework to end regional hostilities and ensure safe passage through the strategic waterway. In comments at a separate event before the press conference, Trump described Iran's proposed response as an "important step" but not yet enough.

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump on Monday repeated criticism of Japan, South Korea, Australia and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) for not providing naval assistance to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Kyodo reported that during a press conference at the White House, Trump complained that Japan and South Korea were “not helping” despite the […]