Crisis in Middle East: Prabowo Summons Energy and Food Ministers to Palace

Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Prabowo Subianto summoned Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan and Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia for a restricted meeting at the Palace in Jakarta on Monday to discuss several issues related to food and energy, particularly following the Middle East crisis.

Zulkifli and Bahlil arrived at approximately 15:30 WIB at the Indonesian Presidential Palace in Jakarta, several hours after President Prabowo led a military ceremony for the funeral of the 6th Vice President Try Sutrisno at the National Heroes Cemetery Kalibata in Jakarta on Monday afternoon.

“I don’t yet know the meeting agenda. In my capacity (responsible for food affairs, red.) - the meeting will likely discuss food security contingency measures following the Middle East conflict,” said Zulkifli Hasan in response to journalists’ questions.

Zulhas, the common nickname for Zulkifli, promised to provide more detailed information about what was discussed after the meeting.

“We’ll explain after the meeting,” he said.

Meanwhile, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia explained that he would report on the current conditions in the energy sector, particularly following Iran’s Navy closure of the Strait of Hormuz for an indefinite period.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the vital “choke points” in the Western Asia region, particularly for oil-exporting countries shipping to destinations across Asia.

“(The report to the President, red.) likely concerns current conditions, geopolitics - specifically the closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran - because this involves anticipating global oil supplies, given that we are still importing oil before Ramadan,” Bahlil said in response to journalists’ questions.

The combined attack by Zionist Israel and the United States on several regions in Iran over the weekend resulted in dozens of deaths, including schoolgirls studying at an exclusive girls’ madrasah, damaged buildings, and the death of several Iranian senior officials, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The Iranian military responded to the attack by firing missiles at bases and American military assets in neighbouring countries, including Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia.