TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Bahlil Lahadalia, chairperson of Indonesia’s Golkar Party, dismissed doubts about President Prabowo Subianto’s ability to mediate tensions involving Iran, the United States, and Israel, saying the party believes the Indonesian leader can serve as a peacemaker.
“Everyone is entitled to their opinion and free to think. That is one of the consequences of living in a democratic country,” Bahlil said at the Golkar Party’s Central Executive Board office in Jakarta on Friday, March 6, 2026. “But for the Golkar Party, we understand and believe in President Prabowo’s ability.”
Bahlil, who also serves as Indonesia’s Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, said his confidence stems from personal experience accompanying Prabowo on overseas visits in February.
During trips to the United States, the United Kingdom, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates, he observed what he described as strong personal rapport between Prabowo and several world leaders.
Based on those interactions, Bahlil said he is optimistic Prabowo could apply a similar diplomatic approach if he attempts to mediate tensions involving Iran, the United States, and Israel.
“If someone does not know President Prabowo well, that is understandable,” he said. “But for those of us in the Golkar Party who know him, we are very confident in his ability to engage in political communication with global leaders.”
However, former Indonesian deputy foreign minister Dino Patti Djalal has questioned the feasibility of such a role. Dino said Prabowo’s idea of traveling to Tehran to act as a mediator between Iran and the United States is unrealistic.
Prabowo’s willingness to mediate was conveyed by Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia hours after Israel, together with the United States, launched strikes on Tehran on Feb. 28, 2026.
Dino outlined at least four reasons why the proposal would be difficult to implement. First, he said the United States rarely accepts third-party mediation while carrying out military operations. He argued that US President Donald Trump is unlikely to welcome Indonesian involvement, suggesting Washington is currently focused on confronting the Iranian government.
Second, Dino noted that relations between Jakarta and Tehran have not been particularly close in recent months. He pointed out that in the past 15 months, Prabowo has neither visited Iran nor met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
Third, Dino said that even if Prabowo were prepared to travel to Tehran, it would be unlikely for Trump and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio—whose country is involved in the attacks—to come to the Iranian capital for talks.
Finally, he said mediation would likely require Prabowo to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose government was a key party in the strike on Iran. Dino argued that such a meeting would be highly unlikely for political, diplomatic, and logistical reasons.
He also warned that a meeting between Prabowo and Netanyahu could trigger domestic political backlash in Indonesia.
“I really don’t know where this remarkable idea came from for President Prabowo to fly to Tehran to mediate this triangular conflict,” Dino said.
Ervana Trikarinaputri contributed to the writing of this article.
Read: Foreign Ministry: Prabowo to Visit Iran to De-escalate Tensions
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