Jakarta. Iran has chosen not to comment on Indonesia’s Board of Peace membership, citing that it is Jakarta’s domestic decision, but Tehran warned that the US might not be the best one to be put in charge of the Gaza peace efforts. 

Just two weeks ago, Jakarta officially became a founding member of the Board of Peace — a decision that many Indonesians have voiced their antipathy for. US President Donald Trump is helming the body that aims to oversee the Gaza ceasefire and reconstruction. Iranian Ambassador to Indonesia Mohammad Boroujerdi admitted this board — especially with Trump at its helm — might not be the best solution out there.

“Whatever Indonesia does is internal, a decision made by the government. We are not going to comment on that,” Boroujerdi said in an exclusive interview with the Jakarta Globe.

“But over 70,000 — mostly women and children — were killed in Gaza. Who killed them? The Zionist regime of Israel. And who supports Israel? Everybody knows it’s the US.”

Iran remains dubious about Washington's role as a champion of peace in Gaza. Boroujerdi pointed out how Washington had helped Israel expand its territorial control in Syria. The diplomat was referring to Trump’s recent boasting of how he had signed the granting of the Golan Heights — a plateau in the southwest corner of Syria — to Israel. Boroujerdi proposed a Palestinian-led solution, including a general election supervised by the UN or other international organizations.

“If there is some international organization or some neutral countries that could move Gaza towards peace, we will 100% support it. But we don’t trust the US as a good player to be there [in Gaza] as a peacekeeper. They have taken the sides in Israel’s benefit,” Boroujerdi said.

The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) was initially against the idea of having Jakarta in the same group as Israel. The council — which has urged Muslims to boycott Israeli-affiliated goods — has softened its stance after a recent meeting with President Prabowo Subianto. According to MUI chair Anwar Iskandar, Prabowo has given his word that Jakarta would quit the board if the body no longer serves the Palestinians.

Ex-Deputy Foreign Minister Dino Patti Djalal has urged Jakarta to tread carefully and prevent Gaza from morphing into one of Trump’s real estate megaprojects. Prabowo later called him, alongside ex-foreign ministers, to the palace for talks on this board. Dino described the meeting as “very candid” and “two-way”.

“This [Board of Peace] is an experiment and not a panacea. He [Prabowo] is realistic about the risks. … The biggest risk is Israel’s presence, as it has a huge influence over Trump. But he has told us that we can balance it out because whatever it is that we do, it must be in unity with Muslim nations,” Dino told reporters.

The Tehran-Washington relations have been fragile. Just last year, Trump ordered airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites. He has threatened to intervene in response to Iran’s crackdown on protesters, even saying that a massive armada is en route to the Middle Eastern country.

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