Solo. Iran’s Ambassador to Indonesia, Mohammad Boroujerdi, met former President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo on Wednesday to discuss the importance of maintaining geopolitical stability as tensions escalate in the Middle East, in a meeting that also touched on recent attacks that killed Indonesian peacekeepers in Lebanon.

The hour-long meeting, held at Jokowi’s private residence in Solo, focused on strengthening diplomatic ties between Indonesia and Iran, as well as broader efforts to promote global peace.

Jokowi, Indonesia’s seventh president, said maintaining strong bilateral relations with Iran remains a strategic priority, both economically and geopolitically.

“We want to continue maintaining diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Iran. I think this is important for both economic and geopolitical interests,” Widodo told reporters after the meeting.

He also voiced support for calls to end ongoing conflicts, stressing that global stability is essential to sustaining economic growth and preventing disruptions to energy supplies and global trade.

“The world needs peace and good relations between countries. Without war, energy crises and supply chain disruptions can be avoided,” he said.

During the meeting, Boroujerdi briefed Jokowi on the latest developments in Iran, including mounting military pressure from Israel and the United States. He expressed appreciation for Jokowi’s solidarity with the Iranian people.

The meeting was also marked by a somber note, as the ambassador conveyed condolences over the deaths of three Indonesian soldiers serving in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), who were killed in a recent attack.

“Three Indonesian soldiers, among the nation’s finest, lost their lives, and several others were injured. We invite the Indonesian people to join the campaign against war. The world needs peace, not conflict,” Boroujerdi said.

The incident has also drawn a strong response from Jakarta on the global stage. Indonesia recently told an emergency United Nations meeting that it would not accept excuses from Israel, after Tel Aviv blamed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah for the deaths of the peacekeepers.

Members of the UN Security Council convened in New York on Tuesday local time following two separate blasts in southern Lebanon that killed the three Indonesian “blue helmets,” who were serving under the UNIFIL mission. The violence comes as fighting between Israel and Hezbollah has entered its second month, raising concerns of a broader regional escalation.

As of March 30, Indonesia had deployed 755 personnel to UNIFIL, making it the largest contributor to the peacekeeping mission. During its national statement at the UN, Indonesia honored the fallen soldiers by reading their names aloud: Zulmi Aditya Iskandar, Muhammad Nur Ichwan, and Farizal Rhomadhon.

At the close of the meeting in Solo, Boroujerdi praised Jokowi’s leadership over his decade in office, crediting him with advancing Indonesia’s development and expanding its international partnerships, including closer ties with Iran.

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