TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry said 720 Indonesian citizens remain stranded in several parts of the Middle East due to flight disruptions caused by the escalating conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran.
Flight cancellations and delays have prevented them from returning home, prompting the government to step up efforts to assist affected citizens.
Heni Hamidah, Acting Director for the Protection of Indonesian Citizens Abroad at the Foreign Ministry, said authorities are continuing to monitor the situation and facilitate their return.
“There are 720 Indonesian citizens stranded due to flight disruptions in various areas in the Middle East, and they are already being handled while awaiting flights back to Indonesia,” Heni said during a press briefing in Central Jakarta on Wednesday, April 8, 2026.
In addition to those affected by travel disruptions, the ministry said some Indonesians remain in high-risk areas, including Iran.
According to Heni, around 281 Indonesian citizens are still in Iran, including 35 seafarers aboard vessels operating along the Iranian coast.
“Currently, there are still around 281 Indonesian citizens in Iran, 35 of whom are seafarers aboard ships along the Iranian coast,” she said.
The presence of Indonesian seafarers in and around the Strait of Hormuz has become a particular concern for the government, given the strategic waterway’s importance to global shipping and its vulnerability to rising military tensions.
The Foreign Ministry, through the Indonesian Embassy in Tehran, said it has been maintaining communication with Indonesian nationals in the area, including both long-term residents and temporary visitors.
Heni said the government is also preparing the next phase of evacuation for citizens who have expressed willingness to leave the country.
“The Indonesian Embassy continues to finalize the next stage of evacuation plans by contacting Indonesian citizens who have stated their willingness to be evacuated,” she said.
She added that any evacuation will be carried out in stages, with safety remaining the government’s top priority.
“The movement of Indonesian citizens must be carried out through safe routes, both when heading to assembly points and when traveling onward to evacuation destinations in other countries,” Heni said.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday, May 7, announced a two-week suspension of a planned military strike on Iran. The decision followed talks with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir, on the condition that Iran ensure the safe reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
Read: UAE Ambassador Pushes for De-escalation Across Middle East
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