Indonesian Deputy Minister Stranded in Qatar Amid Iran-US War

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia’s Deputy Minister of Law and Human Rights, Mugiyanto, said his ministry’s delegation has been stranded in Doha, Qatar, for three days due to escalating tensions between Iran, Israel, and the United States.

“We are stuck in Doha during our journey to attend the UN Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva,” Mugiyanto said in a video statement on Tuesday, March 3, 2026.

The delegation had been en route to Switzerland for a session of the United Nations Human Rights Council when air travel across parts of the Middle East was disrupted.

According to Mugiyanto, conditions in Doha remain uncertain on the third day after Iran’s retaliatory strikes against Israel and the United States. He said there has been no confirmation on when Qatar and neighboring countries will fully reopen their airspace.

“There is still no certainty about when this conflict will end,” he said.

The government has also received reports from the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Doha that more than 100 Indonesian citizens in Qatar have been affected by the regional escalation.

Mugiyanto said similar disruptions have impacted Indonesians in the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia, where flight operations have been suspended. “We cannot fly or continue our journey,” he said.

He urged Indonesians in affected areas to remain calm and follow instructions from Indonesian embassies and local authorities.

“We trust the situation will improve soon,” he added.

The escalation follows reports of explosions in Tehran on Saturday, February 28, 2026, after what US officials told Al Jazeera was a joint US-Israel operation. On the same day, blasts were also reported in Qatar, Kuwait, Abu Dhabi, and Manama after Iran launched missiles toward Israel.

The Indonesian Embassy in Doha has advised Indonesian citizens in Qatar to remain calm and avoid leaving their homes unless necessary. The embassy also urged them to monitor official emergency alerts from the Qatari government and coordinate with local Indonesian community networks for updates.

Indonesians requiring urgent assistance have been asked to contact the embassy, which has opened an emergency hotline.

The mission also encouraged citizens to register through the government’s online citizen protection platform and update their data in the Indonesian Citizens Data Update System in Qatar to facilitate consular support.