The Indonesian government has initiated the evacuation of its citizens residing in Iran amid ongoing US and Israeli attacks on the country.
This phased evacuation began on Friday, March 6th.
In the initial phase, a contingent of 32 Indonesian nationals will be evacuated from Iran on Friday, March 6th, as confirmed by Heni Hamidah, the Acting Director for the Protection of Indonesian Citizens at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA).
These citizens will be evacuated via Azerbaijan, Heni disclosed. However, she emphasized that the chosen evacuation route remains contingent on the real-time conditions on the ground.
“The final decision on this will be made by our representatives at the Indonesian Embassies in Tehran and Azerbaijan,” she added during a press briefing in Jakarta on Friday, March 6th.
Heni further stated that the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is closely monitoring the situation for potential subsequent evacuation phases. Such decisions will factor in various considerations, including the most up-to-date security assessments and other pertinent aspects.
“This includes comprehensive assessments from the Indonesian Embassy in Tehran, as it is our representative office best equipped to provide the most complete analysis,” she elaborated.
She urged the public to understand the highly dynamic nature of the situation on the ground. According to Heni, the Indonesian Embassy in Tehran will maintain continuous communication and outreach efforts with Indonesian citizens still present in Tehran.
The embassy will remain operational to provide assistance and meet the needs of Indonesian nationals there.
What About Indonesian Citizens in Lebanon?
Addressing the situation of approximately 939 Indonesian citizens residing in Lebanon, Heni stated that there are currently no plans for their evacuation. The primary reason for this is that the majority of Indonesian nationals in Lebanon are Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) personnel serving with UNIFIL.
“While there are 939 Indonesian citizens, most are UNIFIL TNI personnel, and as of now, there are no evacuation plans,” she confirmed.
Nevertheless, she affirmed that Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs representatives continue to closely monitor field conditions, update contingency plans, and prepare evacuation options should they become necessary.
This news report will continue to be updated.
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Summary
The Indonesian government has initiated the phased evacuation of its citizens residing in Iran, starting Friday, March 6th, amidst ongoing US and Israeli attacks. In the initial phase, 32 Indonesian nationals will be evacuated via Azerbaijan, though the final route decision will be made by the Indonesian Embassies in Tehran and Azerbaijan based on real-time conditions. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is closely monitoring the situation for subsequent phases, relying on up-to-date security assessments from the Indonesian Embassy in Tehran, which remains operational.
Regarding the approximately 939 Indonesian citizens in Lebanon, there are currently no evacuation plans, primarily because most are Indonesian National Armed Forces personnel serving with UNIFIL. However, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs representatives continue to monitor field conditions, update contingency plans, and prepare evacuation options should they become necessary for citizens in Lebanon.