RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) has strongly condemned the escalation of military attacks by Israel and the United States against Iran, warning that the conflict risks destabilizing the wider Middle East.

In a formal statement issued Sunday, March 1, 2026, MUI also expressed condolences over the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, which it attributed to the strikes.

The statement, signed by MUI Chairman Anwar Iskandar and Secretary-General Amirsyah Tambunan, emphasized both grief and concern.

“MUI conveys deep condolences over the passing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei as a result of the Israel-U.S. attack. As a martyr, we pray he will be granted paradise,” Anwar said.

MUI denounced the attacks as violations of humanitarian values and Indonesia’s constitutional principles, citing the preamble of the 1945 Constitution that calls for global order based on independence, lasting peace, and social justice.

The council acknowledged Iran’s retaliatory strikes on Gulf military bases as acts of self-defense permitted under international law, contrasting them with Israeli and U.S. bombings that reportedly hit civilian targets, including an elementary school where 160 children were killed.

“To prevent further escalation, America and Israel must halt their attacks on Iran, as these actions contravene Article 2(4) of the UN Charter,” Anwar stated.

MUI warned that the situation represents a serious escalation with the potential to draw the region into wider conflict. “This must not be seen as an isolated incident, but as part of a broader geopolitical configuration. It is the responsibility of all nations to pursue peace and ensure maximum protection for civilians,” the statement read.

The council suggested that the strikes may be part of a systematic effort to weaken Iran’s strategic position in the Gulf and limit its support for Palestinian independence. In this context, MUI urged countries to act as mediators to stop military aggression, which it described as a tool of political pressure aimed at reinforcing Israel’s regional dominance.

MUI also questioned the role of the United States in the Palestinian conflict, particularly through the Board of Peace (BoP). It argued that the mechanism has failed to deliver genuine progress toward Palestinian independence and instead risks entrenching an unequal security architecture.

“For this reason, MUI calls on the Indonesian government to withdraw from the BoP, as it is not effective in realizing true independence for Palestine,” Anwar said.

The council concluded by criticizing U.S. President Donald Trump’s joint military actions with Israel against Iran, warning that such operations could trigger a regional war involving multiple powers, both directly and through proxy forces. ***