Iranian Ambassador Discusses Gaza, Sunni-Shia Issues, and Suggests Trump 'Give Up'
REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA – Amid his busy schedule to ensure Iran’s narrative reaches the Indonesian public, the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Indonesia, Mohammad Boroujerdi, took time to visit Republika’s office in South Jakarta on Thursday (30/4/2026). He spoke extensively about the current situation in Iran, the spirit of its people, and issues surrounding Sunni-Shia relations that are beginning to resonate on social media. Here are excerpts from his interview.
How is your family in Iran? Have they been affected by the US-Israel attacks?
Some of my family members are here, and everyone, alhamdulillah, is in good health. Nevertheless, war is never a good thing and has negative impacts.
Many Iranian people have been killed and injured. Iran’s economy has been affected, but our losses are not as great as those of our enemies, and by the grace of Allah SWT, life in Iran continues. Part of my visit is for socialising and because of Eid al-Fitr and the days following it.
You are very busy visiting all former presidents and Indonesian figures from various spectrums. Is grassroots support from Indonesia for Iran that important? Is it more important than government support?
In any case, I have known Indonesia for nearly 30 years, and during the time of Mrs Megawati Soekarnoputri, the late Gus Dur, and Mr SBY, I was in Indonesia. Therefore, I went to visit some of them, and some others to express thanks, because some of them have supported us and supported the Iranian people.
And as a representative of the Iranian people in Indonesia, I am obliged to meet them and express thanks. From the people’s side, alhamdulillah, the Iranian people receive good support, and you know that the vast majority of Indonesians in this unbalanced war support the Iranian people.
There are widespread trolling posts and memes from various Iranian diplomatic posts targeting the US and Donald Trump. Is this spontaneous or under instructions from Tehran?
No, it’s not like that. Our embassies, because during the war the international internet in Iran did not function well, and also because our access to major world media—some of which are supported and managed by Western countries, America, even the Zionist regime—is limited, so the embassies started on their own initiative to do various things; some more visible and some less so.
The Iranian people are the same; anyone with internet access tries to show the truth, because Zionist media and imperialist media are working hard to twist facts, swap right and wrong positions, change the positions of winner and loser, and negatively influence world public opinion.
This has caused many Iranians, including embassies, to spontaneously join this media and cyberspace movement.
Iranian officials, including yourself, have high education (the Iranian Ambassador is a lecturer at master’s and doctoral levels in Iran). Is this a coincidence or a special policy?