Former Foreign Minister says Prabowo is calculating how long the US-Israel war against Iran will last

JAKARTA — President Prabowo Subianto is said to be calculating the duration of a war between the United States and Israel that is attacking Iran.

The claim was made by former Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda after attending a meeting with Prabowo, former presidents and vice-presidents, senior diplomats, and the general party leader on Tuesday evening, 3 March 2025.

‘We are calculating everything, what are the effects on us? Not only from that perspective, but from the calculation of how long this war will last. Previously Trump talked about days, but now he is talking about weeks,’ Hassan said at the Presidential Palace complex in Jakarta, quoted from Kompas TV.

‘If, for instance, America deploys its ground troops, it could be longer and the backlash across Middle Eastern countries will swell and the war could last longer,’ he added.

Additionally, Prabowo conveyed several developments, particularly related to the conflict in the Middle East.

‘The President provided an update briefing on the latest developments in the world, especially regarding what has long been the concern among us, namely the most up-to-date developments of the US and Israel’s attack on Iran,’ Hassan said.

‘The President described how we must navigate our lives not just through two reefs, but now several reefs, and that is not easy,’ he added.

Besides peace and security, the conflict between the US-Israel and Iran could also impact the economy.

‘The potential effects of this war on the global economy, particularly concerning supply, oil, and gas, we are calculating all the effects on us from that side alone,’ he explained.

‘The process always takes four weeks. We estimate it will take around four weeks,’ he told the British newspaper the Daily Mail in the latest interview, on Sunday, 1 March 2026.

‘No matter how powerful Iran is, this is a large country, it will take four weeks or less,’ he continued.

Iranian forces have responded with missiles and drones striking US military bases and other targets across the Middle East.

‘Once again I urge the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the Iranian military and police to lay down their weapons,’ he said, quoted by AFP. ‘This would be certain death. It won’t be pleasant,’ he added.

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