Malaysia: Malaysia is ready to expand and strengthen more substantive defence cooperation with Iran based on the close friendship between the two countries. Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said this was conveyed during his telephone conversation with Iran's Acting Minister of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics, Brigadier General Seyed Majid Ebn-e-Reza.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, in a Facebook post today, Mohamed Khaled stated that Malaysia also hoped a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on defence cooperation could be finalised as an official instrument to strengthen defence ties between the two countries. He welcomed Iran's participation in next year's Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA) as a platform to expand relations and explore broader defence cooperation.

Meanwhile, Mohamed Khaled conveyed Malaysia's condolences over the deaths of Iranian leaders, security personnel, and civilians who were killed in the conflict in West Asia. He expressed hope that a ceasefire could be maintained and that dialogue and diplomatic solutions would continue to be given space in the interest of peace and stability in the region.

He also acknowledged Iran's resilience, including through its independently developed defence capabilities. Mohamed Khaled appreciated Iran's cooperation and good treatment in facilitating passage during the conflict, emphasizing that the security of maritime routes, including the Strait of Hormuz, must continue to be safeguarded.