Singapore's refusal to negotiate with Iran regarding access through the Strait of Hormuz has drawn criticism from Malaysian politicians. This disagreement highlights international tensions over one of the world's most vital oil and gas shipping passages.

Singapore’s position against negotiating with Iran over access to the Strait of Hormuz has triggered backlash from Malaysian politicians, who saw its statements as “lecturing” them on how best to approach gaining safe passage through the vital waterway. For the past month, Tehran had all but shut access to the strait – which handles about a fifth of global oil and gas shipments, bound mostly for Asia – in retaliation to deadly strikes by the US and Israel since they launched a war on Iran on...