Gov’t Working to Minimise Impact of Israel-Iran Conflict, Says Minister Saeed

Minister of Economic Development and Trade Mohamed Saeed said the government is working to minimise the impact of the Israel-Iran conflict on Maldivian citizens while ensuring the continued availability of essential goods.

He made the remarks at a press conference held at the President’s Office by a ministerial committee formed to address the situation. Responding to a question on cost-reduction efforts by the Ministry of Finance, whose minister was not present, Saeed said the government is taking continuous measures to reduce potential disruptions.

“We are working day and night to ensure that the work proceeds in a way that avoids any [negative] impact on the Maldives,” he said. “Today, we can confidently state as a milestone that we will be able to move forward without the Maldives facing a shortage of essential goods.”

He noted that developments in the conflict could affect global markets. “The war scenarios may change in various ways. If they change, difficulties will arise. Prices are also rising in the international market. The price of oil is not something we can control; that is an impact that every country in the global market will experience,” he said.

In his opening remarks, Saeed said imports to the Maldives increased by 13 percent between January and March 2026 compared with the same period last year. However, he noted a decline in imports from the United Arab Emirates region due to airspace closures in the Middle East. While the Maldives has not yet experienced significant disruptions, he said impacts may emerge over time.

Saeed said the government is diversifying sources for essential imports, including from India, China, Malaysia and Vietnam, while also seeking to strengthen economic ties with additional countries. He added that efforts are under way to improve air connectivity and trade routes, maintain adequate fuel reserves, and enhance food storage capacity.

At the press conference, Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Abdulla Khaleel said the conflict could escalate further and have wider implications, adding that the Maldives has called for an end to the conflict.