20 Indonesian Citizens Who Participated in the Second Phase of Evacuation from Iran Scheduled to Arrive at Home This Afternoon

Acting Director of the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemlu RI) Heni Hamidah (Abi/Infomed/Kemlu RI)

JAKARTA - A number of Indonesian citizens (WNI) who participated in the second phase of evacuation from Iran are scheduled to arrive in the country this afternoon.

The government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in coordination with the Indonesian Embassy in Tehran carried out a phased evacuation of Indonesian citizens, following the escalation that occurred in Iran since the conflict with the United States and Israel broke out.

Acting Director of Indonesian Migrant Protection of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Heni Hamidah, said, "The first wave InshaaAllah will arrive this afternoon at 18 (a total of) 20 people and tomorrow 14 people will arrive in Jakarta with the same schedule," explained Heni in a press statement at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Friday (13/3).

Previously, Heni said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had successfully repatriated 32 Indonesian citizens from Iran to the country who arrived on March 10 and 11. The evacuation was carried out in coordination with the Indonesian Embassy in Tehran and the Indonesian Embassy in Baku (Azerbaijan).

It is known that tensions have increased in the Middle East, following the attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran on February 28, which Tehran said killed more than 1,300 people, including Ali Khamenei, the former supreme leader, and more than 150 students.

Since then, Iran has launched drone and missile attacks targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf states hosting US military assets.

Tehran has also effectively tightened the Strait of Hormuz since March 1. This narrow waterway transports around 20 million barrels of oil per day and about 20 percent of global liquefied natural gas trade.

Director General of Asia, Pacific and Africa of the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Santo Darmosumarto, said in a press statement last week that the government was following the escalation of tensions in the Middle East.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has done several things, of course in coordination with the Indonesian representative in various Middle Eastern countries to do several things," explained Ambassador Santo.

"There are more than 519 Indonesian citizens in the Middle East, as many as 329 of our citizens live in Iran," he added.

Regarding the next evacuation plan, Heni said the Government of the Republic of Indonesia through the Indonesian Embassy in Tehran will continue to assess the security and situation of Indonesian citizens who are still in the Land of the Mullahs.

"According to the statement of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia regarding the gradual evacuation, the need for the next evacuation will be adjusted to the latest situation on the ground and also to see the readiness and willingness of the Indonesian citizens who are still there," explained Heni.

"The Indonesian Embassy will continue to coordinate intensively with Indonesian citizens in Iran to get input on their situation in their respective locations," he said.