PBNU Urges Global Community to Call for End to Iran-US Conflict

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Executive Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) is urging the entire international community to jointly call for an end to the escalation of the conflict between Iran and the United States, given that the war is causing problems for all nations.

“From the beginning, I have called on the entire international community to consolidate and urge all parties to stop the violence,” said PBNU Chairman Yahya Cholil Staquf during a press conference at the PBNU Building in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Gus Yahya urged the United States and Israel to cease the violence they have perpetrated, as it is detrimental to the international community. He also called on the Islamic world, the Arab world, and the Middle East to champion peace for the sake of collective safety and benefit.

“Let us talk about peace, safety, and shared prosperity. Stop the violence now. Everyone must stop the violence they have been committing,” he said.

Despite a prior peace agreement through the Islamabad Memorandum signed on 17 June, the US and Iran resumed mutual attacks starting 7 July, following disputes over commercial shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. The latest attack was carried out by US Central Command (CENTCOM) on Monday (13/7), under the pretext of weakening Iran’s ability to continue attacking international shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

PBNU’s call is in line with the Indonesian government’s urging for the United States and Iran to continue adhering to the peace memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed in Islamabad last month and to immediately cease hostilities in the Strait of Hormuz.

“There was an MoU yesterday, and we hope that the document can continue to be respected by both sides,” said Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono.

Indonesia considers it crucial to stop the war and restore peace in the Gulf region, as the dynamics there will have a direct impact on the lives of people in Indonesia.

Separately, the PBNU Chairman also mentioned his meeting with Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf while he was part of an Indonesian delegation paying respects at the funeral of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In line with a message from President Prabowo Subianto, he conveyed the hope that future disputes within the conflict would be resolved peacefully at the negotiating table.

However, Gus Yahya noted that the Iranian Parliament Speaker could not immediately agree to Indonesia’s hopes, despite welcoming them. “But clearly, this requires goodwill and initiative from both sides, a two-way initiative,” he said.