Asian Leaders Hail Two-Week U.S.-Iran Ceasefire

(MENAFN) Leaders across Asia and the Pacific have rallied behind the newly brokered two-week ceasefire between the United States, Israel, and Iran, voicing measured hope that the fragile truce could serve as a springboard for a comprehensive resolution to the Middle East conflict.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim was among the first to respond, lauding the development as a "positive development" and pointing to Iran's proposed 10-point plan, which he noted has been received favorably by Washington.

"This proposal augurs well for the restoration of peace and stability, not only to the region but also the rest of the world," he wrote on X.

Anwar broadened his call for peace beyond the immediate US-Iran standoff, urging that any enduring settlement also address instability in Iraq, Lebanon, and Yemen, and bring an end to the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza. He singled out Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for "tireless and courageous diplomacy," crediting Islamabad's pivotal behind-the-scenes engagement with all parties.

In Tokyo, Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara echoed that sentiment, characterizing the ceasefire as a "positive move" and underscoring that meaningful de-escalation remains Japan's foremost concern, according to media. Japan expressed strong hope that the temporary pause in hostilities would evolve into a permanent and binding agreement.

Australia, too, threw its weight behind the truce. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed Canberra's support Wednesday, noting the country had long advocated for a reduction in hostilities.

"The Australian Government has been calling for de-escalation and an end to the conflict for some time now," Albanese said in a statement.

The announcement followed President Donald Trump's Tuesday declaration that he had agreed "to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks." Earlier, Trump had set a hard deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and resume the flow of oil and gas by 8 p.m. Eastern Time (0000 GMT Wednesday), warning that "a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again" if Tehran failed to comply.

Albanese drew particular attention to the economic consequences of Iran's effective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and its strikes on commercial shipping, civilian infrastructure, and energy installations — actions he said have produced "unprecedented" shocks to global energy markets and driven up fuel prices worldwide.

"We have been clear the longer the war goes on, the more significant the impact on the global economy will be, and the greater the human cost," he said.

Canberra added that it has been coordinating closely with international partners to advance diplomatic efforts aimed at restoring access to the critical waterway and ensuring that essential supplies reach populations most at risk.

Australia also acknowledged the mediation contributions of Pakistan, Egypt, Türkiye, and Saudi Arabia in pushing de-escalation forward.

"Australia wants to see the ceasefire upheld and a resolution to the conflict. We continue to call on all parties to uphold international humanitarian law and protect civilian life," Albanese added.

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