Singapore’s refusal to negotiate with Iran regrettable, says Nurul Izzah

“His posture appears less about neutrality and more about echoing the strategic preferences of external powers, whose interests do not always align with those of our region.

“Balakrishnan is entitled to his position. But he should also recognise that quiet acquiescence to great power narratives and genocidal entities is not the same as principled neutrality,” she said.

She added that such alignment risks eroding Asean’s long-held commitment to independent, balanced diplomacy.

Nurul Izzah said Malaysia will continue to pursue diplomacy with clarity, conviction, and independence.

“We choose dialogue because history has shown that disengagement invites escalation, not stability.

“We choose to act because leadership demands more than cautious distance,” she said.

On Tuesday (April 7), Balakrishnan said Singapore will not negotiate with Iran for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz as a matter of principle.

He said doing so would implicitly erode the legal principle of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos), to which Singapore is a signatory.

He added that Singapore also takes the position that the right of transit passage is part of customary international law.