Anwar warns US-Iran escalation risks wider Middle East war

The Prime Minister of Malaysia, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, has cautioned that the recent US-Iran strikes could trigger a larger conflict in the Middle East, urging both nations to cease further escalation and return to diplomatic negotiations. In a recent Facebook post, Anwar emphasized that the initial exchange of strikes has now transcended the United States and Iran, posing a threat to other regional states.

"The nation with the greatest ability to influence the situation must demonstrate restraint to avert further escalation," he stated. Anwar stressed that military actions should not disregard the sovereignty of other countries and that innocent civilians should not be placed in harm's way due to the expanding conflict. He also cautioned against economic sanctions that inflict undue burden on civilians, arguing that such measures risk exacerbating the crisis rather than resolving it.

Anwar urged the United States and Iran to immediately halt further escalations and resume diplomacy, emphasizing that only political and diplomatic solutions can resolve the crisis. He reiterated that the world ought not to bear the costs of a wider regional war. This warning was issued on September 2, 2026.