US-Iran Trade Attacks Again, Indonesia Urges All Parties to Pursue De-escalation
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia has urged the United States and Iran to continue exercising restraint and pursue de-escalation following the ongoing hostilities and mutual attacks between the two countries in the Strait of Hormuz.
“Indonesia stresses that all parties must continue to exercise restraint and avoid actions that could worsen the situation,” said Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Yvonne Mewengkang at a media briefing in Jakarta on Thursday.
She said Indonesia continues to encourage both parties to work towards de-escalation, prioritise dialogue, and resume negotiations within a framework that always respects international law.
Indonesia views the continuation of the peace process between the US and Iran as vital to maintaining stability and security in the region following the prolonged conflict.
She said such steps are also key to regional peace and to restoring maritime security and shipping safety in the Strait of Hormuz.
On Tuesday evening (8 July), the US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed it had launched a series of new attacks on around 80 military sites in Iran, describing them as retaliation for Iranian attacks on a number of commercial vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
On Wednesday (9 July) morning, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it had launched missile and drone attacks on 85 US military sites across the Middle East, including Salman Port and the headquarters of the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, and Ali Al-Salem Air Base in Kuwait.
US President Donald Trump, also on Wednesday, later stated that the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed with Iran to end the conflict had come to an end.
“It’s a very interesting question for me. I think it’s over. I don’t want to deal with them (Iran) any more. They’re trash,” Trump told reporters on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara, Türkiye.
He indicated that his patience with diplomatic efforts had run out following Iran’s attacks on merchant ships, calling Iran’s leaders in Tehran “liars”.
Trump also affirmed that Washington’s main focus this time is to pursue the full “denuclearisation” of Iran.