Dino Patti Djalal Deems Prabowo's Mediation Discourse in Iran-US-Israel Conflict Unrealistic
FORMER Indonesian Ambassador to the United States, Dino Patti Djalal, has criticised the American and Israeli attacks on Iran and assessed President Prabowo Subianto’s mediation discourse as unrealistic. He has urged Indonesia to adopt a firm stance in accordance with the principles of independent and active foreign policy.
Dino expressed shock and concern over the attacks, particularly because they occurred during Ramadan and targeted a Muslim-majority nation.
“We were all shocked by the American and Israeli attacks on Iran. We are especially concerned because this is an attack on an Islamic nation during Ramadan,” said Dino in a video posted on his personal Instagram account, @dinopattidjalal, on Sunday (1 March).
Regarding the military strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran, Dino assessed that the conflict has the potential to be prolonged.
He believes that the aim of the attacks is not merely to halt Iran’s nuclear capacity, but also to overthrow the government in Tehran. Various instruments will reportedly be employed, ranging from military force, political and economic pressure, to intelligence operations.
“This war will also draw in outside parties and spread shockwaves beyond Iran’s region,” he stated.
He added that Iran possesses significant political and military networks in the Middle East, so the conflict has the potential to expand. According to Dino, even if a change of government occurs in Tehran, this does not automatically justify military action from either a moral or international legal perspective.
Dino further asserted that Iran is the attacked party, not the attacking party. He assessed that the failure of negotiations cannot serve as justification for the use of military force.
Dino also referenced Oman’s role as a mediator, which had previously stated there had been significant progress in negotiations between Washington and Tehran.
He warned that resolving the conflict through military force risks disrupting international stability and peace.
Dino also responded to statements from the government suggesting that President Prabowo Subianto was prepared to fly to Tehran to serve as a mediator in the conflict. As an academic and senior diplomat, he questioned the realism of such a notion.
“And this is politically, diplomatically and also logistically impossible. This would be political suicide for President Prabowo domestically,” he said.
“I truly do not know where this remarkable idea came from, for President Prabowo to fly to Tehran to serve as a mediator in this triangular conflict,” he explained.
“This is unrealistic and will not happen. We must be honest about this,” he stated.
According to Dino, the United States rarely agrees to be mediated by a third party in situations of military strikes. He also assessed that there is insufficient level of closeness or trust between the current Indonesian Government and Iran to mediate such a major conflict.
“The ego of the US as a superpower is too high to accept that,” he noted.
Moreover, he assessed it as unlikely that US President Donald Trump or US Secretary of State Marco Rubio would be willing to participate in a mediation scheme in Tehran.
Dino also stated that mediation efforts would require a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which he described as very difficult politically and diplomatically.
“President Trump this time does not want Indonesia to interfere, because his mood at the moment is to overthrow the Iranian government,” he added.
Rather than seeking a role as mediator, Dino has urged Indonesia to assert its position clearly and consistently with the principles of independent and active foreign policy and commitment to international law.
“In my view, what is most important for Indonesia is not to seek a role as peacemaker in this conflict because it is unrealistic, but rather to assert Indonesia’s position clearly, firmly and explicitly. We must be brave in stating what is truly right and what is wrong regardless of the risks,” he said.
According to Dino, this step is important to demonstrate that Indonesia is a principled nation and not easily disrespected by superpowers.
He even suggested that President Prabowo consider writing a letter to President Trump to suspend the deployment of Indonesian peacekeeping forces in the International Stabilisation Force (ISF) in Gaza, whilst assessing developments in the Middle Eastern situation.
“We do not want Indonesia’s peacekeeping mission to deviate from the ISF mandate, even unintentionally,” he stated.
Indonesia must avoid the risk of Indonesian forces becoming entangled in complications that may arise from the ongoing US-Israel-Iran triangular conflict.
“Consider this carefully and thoroughly, historical validation is far more important than validation from the White House,” he concluded.