Jakarta. While Iran is thankful for President Prabowo Subianto’s mediation offer, Tehran doubts that a negotiation can actually crystallize, according to an envoy, because there is no guarantee that US President Donald Trump will uphold any agreement reached. 

Within hours after the US-Israel’s joint strikes on Tehran over the weekend, Indonesia — the world’s largest Muslim-majority country — announced it sought to step in as a mediator. Prabowo even intends to facilitate the dialogue in person to reestablish the security, unshaken by the barrage of airstrikes in the region. Iranian Ambassador to Indonesia Mohammad Boroujerdi welcomed Prabowo’s plan, but is unsure about Washington’s commitment.

“We certainly express our appreciation for the message and readiness conveyed by Indonesia. For us, there is no negotiation with a country waging hostility against us, namely the US,” Boroujerdi told reporters in Jakarta on Monday. 

“Because is there a guarantee for the US to abide by what has been agreed on?”

Tehran called on Muslim nations “strongly condemning these illegal acts”, while “doing everything they can within the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and UN” to give their support. Indonesia and Iran are both OIC members. Boroujerdi also wants to see the Muslim world hold a “joint campaign against wars”.

He went on to say how Iran is open to having talks with the Indonesian government to discuss what is happening.

“I still can’t tell whether a mediation will bear fruit amid this situation,” Boroujerdi said.

At home, many remained skeptical of Prabowo's travel plans to Tehran. Jusuf Kalla — who had served as Indonesia's vice president twice — slammed the mediation initiative as unrealistic. He pointed out that the recent trade negotiations with Washington already reflected the inequality between the two, which led to Trump gaining much more favorable terms.

“It’s unfortunate how Indonesia made a one-sided deal that is very detrimental to our country. That shows how the US and Indonesia are not equal. How can we convince people who are not equal to us to make peace?” Jusuf Kalla said over the weekend.

At present, the Indonesian government has not shared any details on Prabowo’s Tehran trip, except that the travel would be subject to the approval of the parties in conflict. 

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