Prabowo Urged to Intervene Directly to Allow Pertamina Ships to Pass Through the Strait of Hormuz
JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - President Prabowo Subianto has been urged to intervene directly in lobbying Iran to allow fuel oil tankers owned by Pertamina to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
DPR Commission XII member Syafruddin believes that communication between national leaders is necessary to respond to the geopolitical situation in the Middle East.
“I think the Pertamina ship issue requires direct lobbying from the President. It is not enough with just the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, the Foreign Minister, or those below them,” Syafruddin stated in his remarks on Sunday (29/3/2026).
The Foreign Ministry is expected to elevate diplomatic efforts to a strategic level for faster and more effective results.
“The Foreign Ministry’s efforts and its apparatus are already appropriate, but this concerns the global energy route and the safety of state assets. The President needs to step in directly to have stronger diplomatic pressure,” Syafruddin said.
He views that presidential involvement is necessary to strengthen Indonesia’s bargaining position as a non-aligned country.
“This is not just about the ship, but about how the state is present in protecting strategic assets and its citizens amid global conflicts. The President needs to demonstrate direct leadership in situations like this,” Syafruddin added.
Spokesperson for the Indonesian Foreign Ministry (Kemlu), Yvonne Mawengkang, stated that the Indonesian Foreign Ministry, together with the Indonesian Embassy in Tehran, Iran, continues to coordinate regarding the two Pertamina ships still trapped in the Strait of Hormuz.
The ships carrying fuel oil (BBM) stocks are trapped in the Strait of Hormuz due to the war ongoing between Iran and the United States (US) and Israel.
“Regarding the status of the Pertamina ships, the Foreign Ministry along with the Indonesian Embassy in Tehran has been intensively coordinating with relevant parties in Iran since the beginning,” Yvonne said via a short message on Friday (27/3/2026).
Now, the coordination has progressed to the technical and operational stages to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
“In its development, there has been a positive response from the Iranian side, which is currently being followed up by relevant parties on technical and operational aspects,” Yvonne explained.