Ambassador: Protection of Indonesian Citizens in Iran is Comprehensive, Not Merely Evacuation
Jakarta — Indonesia’s Ambassador to Iran, Rolliansyah Soemirat, has stated that the protection of Indonesian citizens (WNI) currently in Iran is being conducted through comprehensive consideration and is not solely focused on evacuation plans.
The ambassador, commonly known as Roy, made this statement in response to public enquiries regarding the government’s measures to ensure the safety of Indonesian citizens amid the escalation of the situation in Iran.
“I know the public will always jump to the issue of evacuation. What I said earlier is that all of this must be done through a process. This is not a matter of rushing. Speed does not mean correctness,” he told ANTARA during a video call in Jakarta on Monday.
Ambassador Roy emphasised that the government, through the Indonesian Embassy in Tehran, continues to engage in intensive communication with Indonesian citizens and to conduct comprehensive security assessments before taking strategic steps.
This approach, he said, is important to ensure that every policy adopted is truly appropriate and does not instead create risks to the safety of citizens, as the situation in Iran remains dynamic and it cannot yet be confirmed that all exit and entry routes to and from Iran are safe.
The Indonesian ambassador added that communications in Iran remain limited, so efforts to gather Indonesian citizens at assembly points or to determine the routes to be taken will require mapping and comparative studies with other countries.
“In any case, if we act quickly but incorrectly, we will defeat the purpose itself. The steps we consider to provide security may not actually be safe, and could even endanger lives. We also do not yet know which routes are truly safe,” he said.
Ambassador Roy reported that conditions in Tehran remain relatively conducive and habitable, although residual smoke from the bombing can still be felt. Roy assessed that general public activity continues as normal.
The somewhat quieter state of the city, he noted, is influenced by the declaration of seven days of national holiday following the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Furthermore, Roy emphasised that the development of the situation in Iran will be related to the steps that will be taken by the government. Roy also revealed that he continues to coordinate with Foreign Minister Sugiono regarding the protection of Indonesian citizens.
“Please be assured that this matter, as I stated earlier, is the best approach at this time based on a comprehensive assessment. At present, this is the best way to provide protection to Indonesian citizens in our jurisdiction,” he added.