The government of Malaysia has confirmed that its vessels are now allowed to pass through the strategic Strait of Hormuz, following clearance granted by Iran.
Malaysia’s Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim, made this known during a televised address on Thursday. He expressed appreciation to Iran’s President, Masoud Pezeshkian, for permitting Malaysian ships early access through the waterway.
The development comes amid a global energy crisis linked to the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Tehran.
“We are in the process of securing the release of the Malaysian oil tankers and the workers involved so they can continue their journey home,” Anwar said.
He did not disclose how many vessels had successfully passed through the strait or the specific terms attached to the clearance.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a critical route for global energy supplies. A large share of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas passes through the corridor. The waterway has faced disruption due to tensions in the region.
Anwar stated that Malaysia is coping better than many countries affected by the situation. He attributed this to the capacity of the state-owned oil firm, Petronas.
Although Malaysia exports energy, it still depends heavily on crude oil imports from the Gulf region. The Prime Minister said the government will introduce measures to manage fuel use. These include reducing subsidised petrol quotas and shifting some public workers to remote work arrangements.
“Food supplies are affected; prices will certainly rise. Fertiliser as well, and of course, oil and gas,” Anwar said.
“So there are steps we need to take. There are countries whose impacts are far worse than ours, but that does not mean we are spared entirely,” he said.
Iran has maintained that the strait remains open to countries not aligned with the United States or Israel. However, Tehran has asserted control over the route and acknowledged involvement in attacks on some commercial vessels in recent weeks.
Reports also indicate that Iranian authorities are considering introducing a toll system for ships passing through the waterway, with some vessels allegedly asked to pay large sums to guarantee safe passage.
Data from maritime tracking firms showed a slight increase in ship movement through the strait in recent days. This remains far below normal levels recorded before the conflict escalated.
