Indonesia's Foreign Ministry Evacuates 22 Nationals from Iran, Foreign Minister Sugiono Urges Immediate Registration with Embassy
Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry (Kemenlu) has moved swiftly to respond to escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. On Tuesday, 10 March 2026, Foreign Minister Sugiono personally welcomed the arrival of 22 Indonesian nationals (WNI) evacuated from Iran at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Tangerang, Banten.
This repatriation process represents an emergency government measure to protect citizens stranded amid the intensifying armed conflict between the United States-Israel alliance and Iran that has been escalating since late February.
Foreign Minister Sugiono emphasised that the government is according high priority to Indonesian nationals in red zones, particularly in Tehran, to return home swiftly. He appealed to citizens still stranded to immediately register with the nearest Indonesian diplomatic mission.
“I am conveying that if there are Indonesian nationals who wish to be repatriated immediately, particularly in Tehran, they can proceed with the repatriation process by informing our representatives,” said Foreign Minister Sugiono at Soekarno-Hatta Airport.
The evacuation process has proven challenging given the fluctuating air security situation in the Gulf region. The Foreign Ministry is currently maintaining intensive coordination with embassies and local authorities to ensure safe return routes.
Beyond physical evacuation, the Indonesian Government has also established an inter-ministerial task force. This team is tasked with monitoring security developments in the Middle East in real-time to determine further contingency measures.
“We from the Foreign Ministry continue to conduct considerable coordination with our representatives in those countries,” Sugiono added.
Tensions in the Middle East escalated sharply following a series of air strikes involving the United States, Israel, and Iran since 28 February 2026. This situation has disrupted civil aviation and jeopardised the security of foreign nationals in the region.
Indonesia has offered to play a mediating role amid the intensifying Middle East crisis. Foreign Minister Sugiono has emphasised Indonesia’s readiness to lead the International Stabilisation Force (ISF) and deploy 8,000 Indonesian military personnel for peace in Palestine. The Foreign Minister has also reaffirmed the Republic of Indonesia’s commitment at the United Nations headquarters in New York, supporting a Gaza ceasefire and ensuring Palestinian rights are protected through the Board of Peace (BoP).