Business, markets and economy news from Malaysia.
Iran's top negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has dismissed US claims that unfrozen Iranian assets will be spent on American agricultural goods, highlighting deepening disagreements over fund deployment as nuclear negotiations continue.
Iran has rejected International Atomic Energy Agency requests for access to its nuclear facilities, insisting that inspections will only proceed once a comprehensive agreement with the United States is finalised and all sanctions are lifted.
Asian stock markets fell Monday as Middle East tensions and hawkish Federal Reserve signals pushed oil prices and bond yields higher, increasing bets on earlier US interest rate increases.
A potential peace agreement between the United States and Iran could help stabilise global oil prices and reopen shipping routes, though Malaysia's Finance Ministry warns that a full recovery will require several months to account for elevated logistics costs incurred during the crisis.