Thirty-two Indonesian nationals in Iran begin evacuation
The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs says that 329 Indonesian citizens are currently recorded as being in Iran. The majority are students pursuing education in Iran, while a smaller portion are migrant workers or Indonesian citizens visiting the country.
‘As has often been stated, there are 329 people in Iran and the majority are in the city of Qom,’ said Heni Hamidah, Acting Director for the Protection of Indonesian Citizens at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a press statement broadcast via the ministry’s YouTube channel on Friday, 6 March 2026.
Qom, a province located in central Iran about 156 kilometres southwest of Tehran, is where the majority are said to be. In view of the escalating conflict between Iran and the United States and Israel, the ministry will evacuate Indonesian citizens from Iran gradually.
The first evacuation phase will begin this week, with 32 Indonesians repatriated. They will be evacuated via Azerbaijan. ‘The plans for subsequent evacuations will be decided by the Government of the Republic of Indonesia after considering the latest security assessments,’ Heni added.
She said the Indonesian Embassy in Tehran will continue to reach out and communicate with Indonesians remaining in Tehran. The Indonesian Embassy (KBRI) will also provide assistance to meet the needs of Indonesians in Iran affected by the conflict.
Earlier, Foreign Minister Sugiono stated that Indonesians in Iran would be brought back home by land via Baku, Azerbaijan. ‘Because airspace is also closed. If evacuations from Tehran occur, they would have to be transported to Baku, a ten-hour journey,’ Sugiono said at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Tuesday night, 3 March 2026.
Nevertheless, he noted that not all Indonesians in Iran wish to be evacuated. Nevertheless, Sugiono stressed that the government was ready to facilitate those Indonesians who express willingness to be evacuated.
‘I have already instructed our ambassador in Tehran to take immediate evacuation steps if there are Indonesians who wish to be evacuated,’ Sugiono said at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Tuesday night, 3 March 2026.