Foreign Minister orders Indonesian Ambassador in Iran to take immediate steps to evacuate Indonesian citizens

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Foreign Minister Sugiono has ordered the Indonesian Ambassador to Iran, Rolliansyah Soemirat, to promptly take steps to evacuate Indonesian citizens in Iran, amid escalating Middle East tensions involving Iran, the United States, and Israel.

In the face of the escalating tensions, this afternoon I have also instructed our ambassador in Tehran to take evacuation steps immediately, if there are Indonesians who wish to be evacuated,” Sugiono said at the Presidential Palace Complex in Jakarta, Tuesday, 3 March.

According to Sugiono, not all Indonesian citizens in the region have expressed a desire to be repatriated. However, he said a number of Indonesians in Iran are willing to be evacuated. Based on that, the evacuation process will be carried out gradually.

He said that the development of the situation going forward will continue to be monitored in line with the dynamics in the region.

President Prabowo Subianto, he said, also emphasised that Indonesia must be prepared to face all possibilities arising from the conflict’s spillover.

Regarding diplomatic efforts, Sugiono revealed that he has also been in contact with Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Indonesia, he said, also reiterates the principle of respect for the integrity and sovereignty of a country’s territory and the importance of returning to the negotiating table to ease tensions.

In addition, Sugiono stated President Prabowo’s desire to play a mediating role in efforts to cool and de-escalate the escalation in the region. “We reiterate the President’s wish to be a mediator in cooling and de-escalating the escalation in the region, and this is a view that he has also accepted,” Sugiono said.