JK: Indonesia Not Equivalent to the US, How Can We Reconcile?

Former Vice President Jusuf Kalla commented on President Prabowo Subianto’s proposal to travel to Tehran to mediate between the United States and Iran. Kalla said that efforts to reconcile the two conflicting nations are commendable but face significant obstacles.

“However, this is a situation with far greater underlying problems,” Kalla told journalists at his private residence in South Jakarta on Sunday, 1 March 2026.

He noted that efforts to reconcile two conflicting nations are not straightforward. Kalla cited the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which remains unresolved to this day, as an example. According to Kalla, the global geopolitical landscape is determined by actions taken by the United States.

Kalla further assessed that Indonesia does not occupy an equivalent position to the US. He contended that the reciprocal trade agreement (ART) signed with the US is unbalanced and disadvantageous to Indonesia.

“We are not even on equal footing with America. How can we reconcile when the parties are not equal in negotiations such as this?” Kalla said.

President Prabowo Subianto has indicated his willingness to travel to Tehran to serve as a mediator between Iran and the United States. In a written statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Indonesia offered itself as a facilitator for dialogue between the conflicting parties. “Should both parties agree, the Indonesian President is prepared to travel to Tehran to conduct mediation,” the statement read on Saturday, 28 February 2026.

Indonesia expressed regret over the failed negotiations between the United States and Iran, which have led to renewed armed conflict. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on all parties involved to exercise restraint and prioritise dialogue and diplomacy.