National Top News: TNI on Level-1 Readiness and Prabowo's Plan to Mediate Iran and the US
Several articles published since Saturday, 7 March 2026 attracted many readers and became the most-read national news on the channel through Sunday, 8 March 2026. Among them was the Chief of Defence Forces declaring Level-1 readiness for all defence units in Indonesia following the attack on Iran.
The three items summarised by the editors include the TNI commander’s declaration of Level-1 readiness for all defence units in Indonesia, issued amid escalating conflict in the Middle East, and confirmed by the Head of the TNI Strategic Intelligence Agency (Kabais) Lieutenant General Yudi Abdimantyo.
“Level-1 readiness issued by the TNI Commander is addressed to all TNI units, including Bais TNI,” Yudi told Tempo on Saturday, 7 March 2026.
Level-1 readiness in the TNI command is the highest level of preparedness, where all personnel are required to be stationed at their bases, fully equipped with weapons, ammunition, and vehicles, to face emergency threats.
Yudi explained that the Level-1 status aims to anticipate domestic security conditions in the wake of the United States and Israel attack on Iran. The attack prompted Iran to retaliate by striking several US military bases located in Middle Eastern countries.
As a result, those retaliatory strikes could impact the safety of Indonesian citizens in the region.
The Rationale Behind Prabowo’s Plan to Mediate Iran and the US Draws Criticism
President Prabowo Subianto’s plan to mediate between Iran and the United States has drawn criticism from several quarters. Binus University International Relations lecturer Tia Mariatul Kibtiah revealed the main reason for the criticism: Prabowo’s administration does not recognise Indonesia’s weak position to act as a peacemaker for a quarrelling country.
Tia said the public doubts Indonesia’s ability because Iran does not align with Prabowo’s stance as a member of the Board of Peace established by United States President Donald Trump. She argues that Trump’s dominance of the Board of Peace would be a major obstacle to third-party mediation efforts.
“Can Indonesia persuade, whisper to Trump to stop the conflict? Why is the international public laughing, and the domestic public bullying as well? That’s the issue,” Tia said in an online discussion hosted by the Institute for Strategic Transformation Forstra on Saturday, 7 March 2026.
Tia also noted that Iran’s Ambassador to Indonesia Mohammad Boroujerdi has rejected the mediation plan with the US emphatically.
Three Indonesians Missing After Tugboat Sinks in the Strait of Hormuz
Three Indonesian nationals were reported missing after the tugboat they were aboard sank in the Strait of Hormuz near the United Arab Emirates. The vessel sank on the evening of Thursday, 5 March 2026. Seven crew members were on board, four of whom were Indonesian. Three crew members have been found safe, including one Indonesian. Four others remain missing, three of whom are Indonesians.
The Indonesian Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, Judha Nugraha, said the tug Mussafah 2 sank at around 18:30 local time.