Prabowo Still Firm on Serving as Mediator Between Iran and the United States

Foreign Minister Sugiono said President Prabowo Subianto is prepared to take on the role of mediator if Iran and the United States wish to open a mediation channel. The remarks were made at the Presidential Palace complex in Jakarta on Tuesday (3 March), in response to developments in Iran’s stance which had been described as not pursuing talks with the United States.

‘If both sides desire (mediation), yes we, Mr President, are willing to become mediator. But if there is a view that there will be no further negotiations, we leave it to them,’ Sugiono said. He emphasised that Indonesia’s readiness to mediate depends entirely on the will of the two states involved. He noted that President Prabowo has conveyed Indonesia’s commitment to act as a bridge if asked. ‘What is certain is that Indonesia wants to be in a position to bridge the differences, offering our readiness, offering ourselves,’ he said.

However, the decision to continue or reopen negotiation channels remains in the hands of Iran and the United States.

Earlier, Iran’s ambassador to Indonesia, Mohammad Boroujerdi, expressed appreciation for Indonesia’s good intentions to mediate. He stressed that there have been no concrete steps taken so far. ‘As of today there have been no steps related to that and we still do not know whether such steps would have an impact or not,’ Boroujerdi said at a press conference in Jakarta on Monday (2 March). He added that while communication and interaction between states remains possible, he could not confirm whether mediation would yield an agreement. ‘If Iran and Indonesia wish to engage in further interaction and communication to obtain updates and current developments in Iran, that may be possible. But whether mediation can achieve results is something I cannot comment on,’ he said.

Earlier, on 28 February, the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated its readiness to facilitate dialogue to ease tensions and restore a conducive atmosphere. The official statement noted that if both sides agreed, the Indonesian President would be prepared to travel to Tehran to undertake the mediation mission. This step underscores Indonesia’s consistent stance of promoting the peaceful resolution of conflicts through diplomacy and dialogue amid rising global geopolitical tensions.

The President met with cross-generational leaders and political party chiefs at the Istana in Jakarta on Tuesday (3 March). Foreign Minister Sugiono said that 15 Indonesian citizens in Tehran had expressed willingness to evacuate following the intensification of Middle East tensions. Former foreign minister Noer Hassan Wirajuda (2001-2009) assessed that the escalation of U.S. and Israeli actions against Iran shows the fragility of the rules-based global order. Iran, the world’s third-largest producer in OPEC, accounts for about 4.5% of global oil supply.