Prabowo Ready to Mediate with Iran; HNW Urges Constitutional Consistency

Deputy Speaker of the People’s Consultative Assembly Hidayat Nur Wahid has expressed concern over the condemned attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran, which he argues distance the region from peace. He contends this has also undermined the legitimacy of the Board of Peace and questioned Indonesia’s continued relevance within it.

HNW therefore cautioned President Prabowo that should he undertake mediation efforts, as reported by the Foreign Minister, he must remain within the scope of constitutional consistency in implementing Indonesia’s foundational law, not merely mediating the cessation of the American and Israeli war against Iran which has proven to distance the region from peace, but also to end the war between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

This constitutes consistency in implementing the fourth paragraph of the Preamble to the Indonesian Constitution of 1945, which calls for Indonesia to actively participate in realising world peace. As a sovereign nation maintaining active independence, Indonesia should participate in advancing peace, halting wars, and preparing conducive conditions in the Middle East and other international regions.

HNW stated that the Foreign Ministry’s announcement that President Prabowo is ready to undertake mediation, should both parties agree, and is even willing to travel to Tehran, must be reminded of its constitutional parameters.

“The US and Israeli attacks on Iran have indeed distanced the realisation of peace and regional stability in the Middle East and global security. However, the war between Pakistan and Afghanistan has likewise failed to bring about the peace envisioned by the Constitution. Therefore, it is entirely reasonable that President Prabowo, in addition to travelling to Tehran, should also visit Islamabad and Kabul to initiate mediation to end the war between Pakistan and Afghanistan—two Muslim nations that are very close to Indonesia and hold Indonesia in high regard—so that both may cease hostilities and restore peace,” HNW stated in a declaration on Sunday, 1 March 2026.

HNW also agreed that dialogue and diplomatic approaches should be prioritised by each nation, all of which remain United Nations members, as stipulated in the UN Charter Declaration, Article 2(4). This must be done whilst respecting international law and UN conventions.

“All forms of warfare should be immediately halted, as they distance peace and only produce victims, humanitarian tragedy, disabilities, and disadvantage all parties whilst undermining the international order recognised by the UN,” he said.

Moreover, HNW continued, following Israel and US attacks on Iran, Iran responded not only by counterattacking Israel but also by striking numerous US military bases in several neighbouring countries, including Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Qatar, and even Saudi Arabia.

“This has the potential to widen the conflict, as each of these nations feels its sovereignty violated, and civilians from these countries face potential casualties and collateral effects from these counterattacks. And those disadvantaged by all this are fellow Muslim nations, who could also become victims of Greater Israel’s expansionist project,” he stated.

HNW added that to better implement constitutional provisions regarding Indonesia’s participation in advancing world peace, Prabowo should also engage UN institutions, through which the Secretary-General has already expressed opposition to this war and its escalation, and maximise the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) forum to advance peace among its member states.

“It is important that Indonesia propose to the UN and OIC to promptly convene a General Assembly or Extraordinary Summit at the level of Heads of State to immediately halt the US and Israeli war on Iran and also the war between Pakistan and Afghanistan, so that negative escalation can be quickly stopped. This is particularly important given that conflicts in both regions involve nations that are OIC members. This aligns with the first purpose of OIC’s establishment as stated in its Charter—to promote and strengthen fraternity and solidarity among OIC member states,” he said.

Additionally, HNW reminded the Indonesian government to promptly provide effective protection to Indonesian nationals in conflict-affected regions: Iran and nations involved in the conflict, as well as those in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

“Protection of Indonesian nationals, including those in conflict-affected areas in the Middle East and elsewhere, is also a constitutional obligation of the Indonesian state, making it a matter of utmost urgency given the increasingly critical situation and potential for prolonged escalation,” he concluded.