Latest News on Pertamina Ship "Stuck" in the Strait of Hormuz

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The conflict in the Middle East involving Iran, the United States, and Israel shows no signs of abating. The situation is instead heating up following reports that the US Department of Defense is preparing a new strategy, including the possibility of a ground operation in the conflict area. That plan is akin to the Betawi adage, “loe jual gue beli”. Iran remains undaunted by the ground attack plan. That statement was made amid US efforts to deploy elite troops and thousands of soldiers to the Middle East. Nevertheless, Bahreini emphasised that Iran has prepared itself to face any scenario in its current conflict with Israel and the US. Bahreini warned that if the US-Israel truly launches a ground operation in Iran, it would be a major mistake in his view. Amid the whizzing of missiles and the rumble of explosions, Indonesia’s interests are also left behind in the Arabian Gulf. The two Pertamina-owned ships are the Pertamina International Shipping (PIS) VLCC Pertamina Pride and Gamsunoro. These fuel oil (BBM)-carrying ships must park in the Arabian Gulf to avoid “stray missiles” from Iran, which is defending itself. It is not without reason; several US oil tankers were once struck by Iranian missiles while passing through the Strait of Hormuz on 14 March 2026. Domestically, the government is racking its brains to ensure that the ships carrying fossil energy cargo can arrive soon to supply BBM to the homeland. The Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia said this is not easy but not impossible to achieve. He affirmed that intensive coordination is still being built by the Indonesian government with Iran to release the two RI ships from the conflict area.