Yvette Tanamal, Jakarta – Indonesia is still in the process of securing permits for its oil tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, the Foreign Ministry has said, denouncing threats against commercial vessels and their crews amid the fragile ceasefire between the United States, Israel and Iran.
In a press briefing on Thursday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Vahd Nabyl A. Mulachela renewed a call for guaranteed freedom of navigation through the vital shipping strait.
He added Jakarta continues to intensively coordinate with relevant Iranian authorities to secure passage for two of its vessels, the Pertamina Pride and the Gamsunoro, owned by Pertamina International Shipping (PIS), the state-owned energy company's shipping and logistics arm.
"We have been intensively coordinating [with] the Iranian Armed Forces and the Iranian Foreign Ministry to follow up on the positive signals convened by the Iranian government in mid-March," Vahd said, referring to talks between Tehran and the Indonesian embassy in the country last month.
He added Jakarta also continues to monitor and communicate with its crews in the strait to ensure technical and crew readiness, stressing it rejects any acts that threaten their safety.
"We also reject any threat to commercial vessels, and stress that maritime safety must be the top priority," Vahd said.
Little headway has been made for Indonesia's oil tankers stranded in the Strait of Hormuz, more than 40 days after Tehran first imposed restrictions on traffic through one of the world's most critical energy chokepoints.
With roughly 20 percent of its crude oil imports reliant on the strait, Indonesia has intensified its diplomatic efforts with Iran via its embassy in Tehran. But the effort has seen little progress, even as Iran has granted permits to several other countries including Malaysia.
Vessels of countries that do not get permits to pass through Hormuz face threats from both Iran and the US, including an interception or attack warning from Tehran in March for passing unauthorized ships. Meanwhile, Washington also issued a warning that passing ships could be boarded or turned back amid its blockade of Iran-linked maritime traffic since early April.
Indonesia's difficulties in securing permits from Iran have come under scrutiny at home amid public dissatisfaction over the government's response to the US-Israeli war on Iran, including the lack of condemnation of the military strike on Tehran and President Prabowo Subianto's delayed condolences after the killing of Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Concerns about Indonesia and Iran's relationship heightened earlier this week following reports that Jakarta was considering granting Washington's proposal for a blanket overflight access to its airspace. Analysts warn the issue could entangle Indonesia in the Middle East conflict.
Responding to the concerns, another Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Yvonne Mewengkang, assured that overflight access discussions have not impacted the negotiations for vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
"So far there has not been any report that the overflight [proposal] has affected negotiations," she said. "The process for getting the access permit continues to unfold, and we await further details from Iran on the mechanism."
Reports emerged on Wednesday that Iran could consider allowing ships to sail freely through the Omani side of the Strait of Hormuz without risk of attack as part of proposals Tehran has offered in negotiations with the US, providing a deal is clinched to prevent renewed conflict, as reported by Reuters.
The Foreign Ministry did not disclose any details about whether the development has in any way affected its negotiations with Iran on Indonesia's vessels.
The fragile ceasefire in Iran, set to expire by April 22, remains on a knife's edge. Further talks to end the war failed to produce a breakthrough following an unfruitful peace negotiation mediated by Pakistan in Islamabad on Saturday and Sunday.
Mediators have warned that key divisions have persisted, with reports pointing to Iran's insistence on sanctions relief and unrestricted maritime access clashing with Washington's demands for verifiable limits on military activity and freedom of navigation.
In its first response to the failed Islamabad negotiations, the Foreign Ministry expressed its regret and emphasized the need for the advancement of dialogue and diplomacy.
"Jakarta views the negotiations as a positive initial step that remains important to continue," Yvonne said on Thursday's briefing, "and calls on all parties to exercise restraint, prioritize dialogue and avoid further escalation of the conflict in the interest of global peace."
Separately on Thursday, Pertamina corporate secretary Arya Dwi Paramita said the firm continues its coordination with the Foreign Ministry to free its vessels from Hormuz, as reported by Antara.
The state energy giant's corporate communication vice president Muhammad Baron added Pertamina is maintaining communication with the vessels' crews to ensure their welfare.
Source: https://asianews.network/indonesia-tanker-release-through-hormuz-in-progress