Sanctions imposed by the United States on Iran violate the United Nations‘s charter and international law, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has said in a conference in Qatar.

“Malaysia does not support the reimposition of the unilateral sanctions by the US against Iran,” he told the Doha Forum, also attended by Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, on Saturday.

Last year, US President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the US from the 2015 Iran nuclear accord and reinstated sanctions to choke Iran’s oil exports and isolate its economy as part of a “maximum pressure” campaign against Tehran to force it to renegotiate a new deal.

Malaysia and other countries have lost “a big market” because of the sanctions on Iran, said Mahathir.

“Such sanctions clearly violate the United Nations Charter and international law. Sanctions can only be applied by the United Nations in accordance with the charter,” he added.

The two-day Doha Forum, which defines itself as a global platform for dialogue, will discuss various topics under the theme of Reimagining Governance in a Multi-Polar World.