RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - As tensions rise in the Middle East, the Indonesian government has begun evacuating its citizens from Iran, including two Indonesian migrant workers, in a coordinated effort led by the Foreign Affairs Ministry and Indonesian diplomatic missions.

“We appreciate the swift action taken by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Indonesian representatives in facilitating the return of Indonesian citizens from Iran, including two migrant workers. Ensuring the safety of our citizens, particularly migrant workers, remains the government’s top priority,” Deputy Minister for the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers, Christina Aryani, said in a statement in Jakarta on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

The repatriation effort follows rising tensions in the Middle East, particularly following the attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran. The deputy minister said the evacuation demonstrates the government’s commitment to ensuring the safety of Indonesians overseas, including migrant workers.

A total of 32 Indonesians are being evacuated from Iran in stages. They include 10 professionals, one teacher or journalist, 14 students, two Indonesian migrant workers, and five tourists. The two migrant workers are Ali Husein and Tetap Segar, both from West Java and employed in the manufacturing sector. They arrived in Indonesia from Iran on March 10, 2026.

Based on coordination with the Directorate for the Protection of Indonesian Citizens at the Foreign Affairs Ministry, these two migrant workers were also evacuated last year, the deputy minister added.

According to a statement from the Foreign Affairs Ministry, the evacuation from Iran is being carried out in two phases. The first group of 22 Indonesians arrived safely at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Banten, on Tuesday, March 10, after traveling from Baku, Azerbaijan.

The remaining 10 Indonesians are scheduled to return in the second phase on Wednesday, March 11. “Although Iran is not an official placement country for Indonesian migrant workers, the government remains present to ensure that every Indonesian citizen receives protection, especially in emergency situations such as conflict,” she continued.

She added that the Ministry for the Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection continues to coordinate with the Foreign Affairs Ministry and Indonesian missions in the Middle East to monitor the situation and ensure the protection of migrant workers.

“Cross-ministerial coordination and cooperation with Indonesian representatives abroad are continuously carried out to ensure the condition of Indonesian citizens, including migrant workers, remains well monitored,” she explained.

Data from the Indonesian Embassy in Tehran shows that around 329 Indonesians are currently in Iran. Most of them are students concentrated in the city of Qom, while the rest are workers and expatriates. ***