Iran Pledges Stronger Ties With ASEAN, Seeks Sectoral Dialogue Partner Status

By Wan Muhammad Aslah Wan Razali

KUALA LUMPUR, March 5 (Bernama) -- Iran has expressed strong interest in enhancing its engagement with the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), emphasising the region’s importance and vast potential.

Iranian Ambassador to Malaysia, Valiollah Mohammadi Nasrabadi, said that Iran signed the Instrument of Accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) of ASEAN in 2018, and since then both sides have been working towards stronger cooperation across various sectors.

“We have now submitted an application for ASEAN sectoral dialogue partnership and hope that during Malaysia’s chairmanship (of ASEAN), we will see progress on this matter with Malaysia’s support,” he told Bernama after appearing as a guest on Bernama TV’s programme ‘The Nation’ on Tuesday.

Iran has applied to become ASEAN sectoral dialogue partner in 2024.

On Tehran’s relations with Syria following the fall of Bashar al-Assad, Valiollah said Iran respects the will of the Syrian people and it remains open to dialogue and cooperation with the new government.

“We had a good relationship with the previous Syrian government. The reason Iran was in Syria was because of ISIS (terror group), which attacked both Iraq and Syria. 

“And we were there because, through Syria, we can support Palestine. If you recall, Israel had attacked Iranian military positions in Syria multiple times. Why? Because they know it goes against their interests.

“With the new government in place, we respect the will of the people. Our goal is for the new government to successfully unite the country, and we support this vision. Iran remains open to diplomacy with the new government,” he said. 

Addressing the ongoing conflict in Gaza, Valiollah reaffirmed Iran’s unwavering support for the Palestinian people in their struggle for independence.

He also acknowledged Malaysia’s longstanding support for Palestine, commending its position at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in condemning Israeli actions.

“I would like to thank Malaysia for its stance, especially its support at the ICJ against Israel. 

“After the ceasefire, the Palestinian people will need humanitarian aid, and both Iran and Malaysia, as strong supporters of Palestine, are prepared to cooperate in reconstruction efforts in Gaza,” he said.

Valiollah also highlighted the deepening relations between Tehran and Kuala Lumpur, bolstered by the just concluded 8th Malaysia-Iran Joint Commission Meeting (JCM). 

The meeting, co-chaired by the Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan and his Iranian counterpart, Seyyed Abbas Araghchi, in Tehran last month, reaffirmed both countries’ commitment to exploring and strengthening bilateral relations, particularly in trade, investment, education, health and research.

Valiollah also pointed to potential cooperation between Malaysia and Iran in the energy sector, particularly in renewable energy.

“The energy sector of Iran is very important. We have oil and gas, but we are also moving towards renewable energy. This presents a great opportunity for collaboration with Malaysia, which is also exploring renewable energy sources.

“We can exchange knowledge and investments in this field to benefit both nations,” he added.

In 2024, Iran was Malaysia's seventh-largest trading partner in the West Asian region, with total trade valued at RM2.6 billion (US$0.57 billion), marking a 24.6 per cent increase from 2023.

Malaysia was Iran's largest trading partner among ASEAN Member States and its 19th largest globally in 2023.

Malaysia established its embassy in Tehran in 1970, while Iran opened its embassy in Kuala Lumpur in 1981.

-- BERNAMA