Prabowo Gains Backing from Middle Eastern States to Mediate US–Iran Tensions

Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Prabowo Subianto has received backing from a number of Middle Eastern countries and other Islamic nations in relation to Indonesia’s bid to take on the role of mediator to ease tensions between the United States and Iran. The Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/Head of the National Land Agency (ATR/BPN) Nusron Wahid said President Prabowo desires there to be space for talks between the two sides to push for a diplomatic settlement. ‘In principle, the President wants there to be a meeting between the United States and Iran to serve as mediate and for Iran to open itself,’ Nusron said at the Presidential Palace Complex in Jakarta, on Thursday night (5/3). According to Nusron, the diplomatic step initiated by the President has received support from several leaders in the Middle East and other Islamic countries. He noted that the support comes from a number of countries, among them Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates. However, Nusron emphasised that more detailed explanations of the diplomatic steps are the prerogative of the Foreign Ministry. ‘Clearly this falls within the purview of the Foreign Minister who is authorised to explain. But earlier it was explained that the President’s efforts have gained support from leaders of Middle Eastern countries,’ Nusron said. Nusron conveyed that the President, together with several other leaders from countries that are part of the Group of Eight (D-8), share the same desire to foster peace in the region. According to him, the leaders agreed that the conflict should not be protracted, especially those that could trigger broader tensions in Iran and the Gulf region. ‘The President, together with seven other leaders in the group of 8, want peace. We must not allow war to drag on, particularly in Iran or in the Gulf region and so on,’ he added.