KUALA LUMPUR, April 13 (Bernama) – ASEAN Foreign Ministers welcomed the two-week ceasefire between the United States (US) and Iran announced on April 8 and called for its full and effective implementation to prevent further escalation and safeguard regional stability.
In a statement on developments in West Asia on Monday, the ministers urged both sides to continue negotiations towards a permanent end to the conflict and lasting peace and stability in the region.
“We call for the full and effective implementation of the ceasefire to prevent further suffering and loss of lives.
“This includes ensuring maritime security and freedom of navigation and overflight, especially for merchant, non-combatant vessels and aircraft in accordance with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), minimising disruption to energy and essential goods flows, and mitigating its adverse impact on global economic stability,” the statement read.
The ministers also urged all parties to maintain conducive conditions for the implementation of the ceasefire, including by adhering strictly to its terms, exercising utmost restraint, ceasing all hostilities, acting responsibly, avoiding actions that could aggravate the situation, and working collectively towards a comprehensive and enduring resolution in accordance with international law, the UN Charter and relevant UNSC resolutions.
They also commended the efforts of Pakistan and all parties involved for their collaborative role in facilitating the process.
The ministers further reaffirmed the importance of maintaining maritime safety and security, and upholding freedom of navigation and overflight above straits used for international navigation.
This is in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), as well as relevant standards and recommended practices by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).
“In this regard, we call for the restoration of safe, unimpeded and continuous transit passage of vessels and aircraft in the Strait of Hormuz in line with the 1982 UNCLOS.
“We also urge all parties to ensure the safety of seafarers and ships in accordance with the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS),” the statement read.
The ministers underscored the importance of maintaining regional peace, stability and prosperity, upholding international law, and promoting earnest dialogue and diplomacy as the primary means of addressing conflicts and tensions, including the need for a complete and immediate cessation of hostilities across all fronts in West Asia.
“We further reaffirm the obligations of all States to resolve their differences through peaceful means, respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations, protect civilians and civilian infrastructure in armed conflicts, and ensure the safety and security of UN peacekeepers and humanitarian personnel, in line with international law, the UN Charter and relevant UNSC resolutions,” it said.
On April 8, US President Donald Trump announced a two-week suspension of military operations against Iran following a mediation brokered by Pakistan.
In response, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the Supreme National Security Council had declared that Tehran would cease defensive operations if attacks on the country were halted.
On Saturday, the US, Pakistan and Iran began holding trilateral face-to-face meetings in Islamabad aimed at ending the broader regional conflict in West Asia amid the ceasefire brokered earlier.
The US delegation is led by Vice President JD Vance, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Senior Adviser Jared Kushner. The Iranian delegation is headed by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Araghchi, and senior security official Ali Bagheri Kani.
Senior Pakistani officials facilitated the talks, positioning Islamabad as a key mediator in the process.
— BERNAMA