FPCI Founder Warns US-Israeli Attack on Iran Will Escalate into Prolonged Conflict
Jakarta (ANTARA) — Dino Patti Djalal, founder of the Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia (FPCI), has predicted that military attacks by the United States and Israel against Iran will develop into a prolonged conflict.
“This will become a prolonged conflict, because the objective of this military strike is not merely to halt Iran’s nuclear capacity, but to overthrow the government in Tehran,” Djalal stated in a social media post on Sunday (1 March).
The former Deputy Foreign Minister under President Susilo Yudhoyono predicted that all military operations, mass mobilisation, Mossad operations within Iran, and social and economic instruments would be deployed to overthrow the Iranian government, whilst Iran would simultaneously resist such external intervention.
Noting that Iran differs from Venezuela due to its significant political and military networks across several regions, Djalal assessed that the conflict would inevitably draw in outside parties and cause destabilisation beyond Iran’s borders.
He characterised the “reckless actions” by the US and Israel as potentially plunging the world into the possibility of a third world war.
Djalal stressed that Iran is the party under attack, not the aggressor. He argued that the failure of negotiations between the US and Iran does not justify American military strikes against the country, particularly as Oman—which has mediated peace negotiations between the two nations—reported significant progress in talks.
The military attack on Iran, according to Djalal, indicates a concerning trend in the United States whereby all disagreements contrary to Trump’s preferences are resolved through warfare or violence.
Djalal characterised such an approach as extremely dangerous for international stability and peace.
Regarding Indonesia’s response, where President Prabowo has offered to fly to Tehran as a political mediator, Djalal assessed that such efforts would prove ineffective, as Donald Trump appears largely unwilling to accept mediation.
“The United States rarely accepts mediation or third-party intervention because, as a superpower, America considers itself too elevated to accept such measures,” he stated.
“I also believe that President Trump currently does not want Indonesia to intervene because his disposition at present is singularly focused on overthrowing the Iranian government,” Djalal added.
Rather than attempting to serve as a peacemaker, Djalal advocated that Indonesia should articulate its position clearly, firmly, and unambiguously.
“We must be courageous in stating what is right as right and what is wrong as wrong, whatever the consequences. The American and Israeli attacks on Iran contradict all the principles articulated by President Prabowo at the UN General Assembly last year,” he said.
Indonesia, according to Djalal, must remain consistent in upholding principles of peace and international legal norms.