Inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. Minister of Foreign Affairs Sugiono has instructed the Indonesian Ambassador to Iran Rolliansyah Soemirat to initiate the immediate evacuation of Indonesian citizens as regional hostilities escalate between Iran, the United States, and Israel.

At least 15 Indonesians in Tehran have formally requested evacuation. Due to the current closure of regional airspace, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs  is coordinating a complex land-to-air extraction route, according to antaranews.com.

"We are managing the timing because the airspace is closed. The evacuation from Tehran involves a 10-hour overland journey to Baku, Azerbaijan," Minister Sugiono explained at the Presidential Palace on Tuesday night (3/3/2024). 

He emphasized that logistics and the health of the citizens are being carefully considered for the long trek before they can catch flights back to Jakarta.

While the situation in Tehran remains critical, the Minister noted that the approximately 27,000 Indonesians residing in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, such as Qatar, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia, have not yet requested evacuation. 

"We prioritize those who wish to be moved. Currently, only these 15 individuals have expressed readiness," he added. 

President Prabowo Subianto has reiterated that the state must remain prepared for all contingencies as the geopolitical dynamic continues to shift.

(mg/inp/pr/rs)