A TOTAL of 13 Malaysians are still in Iran and have chosen not to return home.
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said all of them, including students, have been advised several times to return home.
"Some do not want to return, so these 13 are still in Iran, and we have asked them to sign an indemnity letter.
"The letter states that they cannot blame the government, because we want to bring them back, but they do not want to return of their own accord," he said during the Ministerial Question Time session in the Dewan Rakyat today.
He was responding to a supplementary question from Datuk Khlir Mohd Nor (PN-Ketereh), who asked for an evacuation and emergency plan for Malaysians in Iran and the number still in Iran.
Mohamad said Wisma Putra had also issued a travel advisory twice for Malaysians not to visit Iran unless it was essential.
"Some have also gone, recently went. Do not go there, because in the current situation, anything is possible.
"Like in the first half of last year, we had to make an evacuation plan and had to travel 1,200 kilometres by land from Tehran to Ashgabat, Turkmenistan," he said.
Commenting on Malaysia's stance if war broke out in Iran, Mohamad said Malaysia's stance was consistent.
He said that Malaysia, in principle, always wants peace and security.
"Any country that commits aggression, war and terrorism, we will condemn. We do not care who it is, because we practice a policy of neutrality, peace and prosperity.
"Anyone who practices a policy of violence against humanity for whatever reason, we will condemn the action. That is our country's stance," he said. – February 26, 2026
