JK's Warning Following Israel-US Attack on Iran: Economic Impact and Prabowo's Mediation Plans
JAKARTA — Former Vice President Jusuf Kalla (JK) has spoken out following the Israeli and American military strike against Iran on Saturday, 28 February 2026.
JK expressed deep concern over the attack, which resulted in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with members of his family.
The military operation is particularly controversial as it has occurred amid ongoing nuclear negotiations between Iran and the United States that have yet to reach agreement. “From an ethical standpoint, one should not attack while negotiations are ongoing, shouldn’t they? This is certainly a situation that deeply troubles us all,” JK stated at his residence on Jalan Brawijaya, Pulo, Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, on Sunday, 1 March 2026.
JK drew parallels to other US interventions, noting: “Venezuela—the US did not attack, but abducted. Iran, and also other countries previously, such as Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria.”
JK therefore characterises the Israeli and American strike as a form of brutality against Iran.
He recognises that the political situation in Iran has been turbulent even prior to the joint attack. Political dynamics within the nation are fractured, with at least three major factions holding distinct interests.
The first faction comprises hardliners loyal to the supreme leadership and the revolutionary system. The second consists of groups pushing for change and reform. In recent times, waves of demonstrations have emerged expressing dissatisfaction with political conditions, economic circumstances, and civil freedoms. The third faction encompasses those who long for a return to the monarchical system under the Pahlavi dynasty, which ruled before the 1979 revolution that overthrew the Shah.
In such a situation, not all parties within Iran view recent developments from the same perspective. Some groups feel advantaged by circumstances that weaken the government, whilst others seek to preserve stability.