Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Indonesia recently reacted to the appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei as Iran's new supreme leader, saying that Jakarta "respects" Iranian sovereignty.
Under the Iranian constitution, the country's supreme leader is chosen by an 88-member Assembly of Experts. Mojtaba is the successor to his late father, Ali Khamenei, who was killed as part of a US-Israeli military operation on Feb. 28. Ali Khamenei ruled the oil-rich country for almost four decades.
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Yvonne Mewengkang told the Jakarta Globe that the government was "closely monitoring the developments in Iran's leadership, particularly the announcement of a new supreme leader."
"Indonesia respects Iran's sovereignty and the constitutional process in place," Yvonne said on Monday night.
Southeast Asia's biggest economy also repeated its calls for the need to uphold dialogue to cool down the regional tension.
"Indonesia remains committed to continuing our ties and constructive bilateral partnership with Iran, as well as all international partners, in pushing for peace, stability, and respect for international law."
Earlier that day, the Indonesian government released a statement that reflected a stronger stance compared to the previous one. Jakarta called on the US and Israel to stop attacking Iran. Indonesia also made a similar request for Iran to cease firing strikes at Gulf nations, although Jakarta did not comment on Iranian retaliatory attacks against Israel.
According to news outlet Al-Jazeera, Mojtaba's religious credentials are of a mid-level cleric rather than the higher rank of ayatollah – a status that his slain father had. However, the senior Khamenei was not an ayatollah when elected as the supreme leader in 1989.
US President Donald Trump has admitted to being "disappointed" with Iran's leadership choice.
"We think it's going to lead to just more of the same problem for the country," Trump said at a press briefing in Florida.
The Iranian government has said the recent election showed the country "is not dependent on a single individual".
"It is a system based on the rule of law, the voice of the people, and divine values."