Middle East Tensions Rise as Prabowo Seeks US-Iran Mediation and Openness

Jakarta, KOMPAS.com - President Prabowo Subianto wants the United States and Iran to open up to one another and to engage in mediation amid rising tensions in the Middle East. The intention was revealed by Nusron Wahid, Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning / Head of the National Land Agency (BPN), during a buka bersama with the President and the ulama at Istana Merdeka, Jakarta, Thursday night (5 March 2026). ‘In principle, the President desires there to be a meeting between the United States and Iran, to mediate and for Iran to open up,’ Nusron said on Thursday. ‘At least Pakistan and the UAE support Prabowo in playing this role,’ he added. ‘The steps taken by the President have the backing of several Middle Eastern countries and other Muslim countries. Including Pakistan, and the UAE,’ he added. ‘In essence, the President, together with seven leaders of countries in the Group of Eight, want peace. We must not let the war drag on, particularly in Iran or in the Gulf region and such.’ During the occasion, Nusron also stated that the government is listening to calls for Indonesia to withdraw from membership in the Board of Peace (BoP). ‘The government is not anti-criticism. We listen while considering the situation, but we will prove in the field that diplomacy is the best path to create peace,’ Nusron said. The BoP forum, formed by US President Donald Trump, is viewed as a forum to realise independence in Palestine. ‘Because the forum to negotiate peace in Palestine and Gaza, at present that is the BoP,’ he added. In addition, Prabowo is said not to want to rush to decide on withdrawing Indonesia’s participation in the Board of Peace.