RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia's 10th and 12th Vice President, Muhammad Jusuf Kalla (JK), has urged Indonesia to play a more active role as a peace mediator in the Middle East. He said, Indonesia has significant advantages as the country with the world's largest Muslim population and as a relatively stable nation that can facilitate dialogue among Islamic countries.

Kalla also conveyed the situation in the Middle East has become increasingly concerning after hopes for peace between Iran and the United States once again collapsed.

"At first, we were pleased that an agreement had been reached between Iran and the United States. But it fell apart, and now the conflict is expanding," Kalla said after attending the third day of the 8th Indonesian Muslim Congress (KUII) in South Jakarta on Sunday, July 26, 2026, as quoted by mui.or.id.

He affirmed that countries in the region should prioritize peaceful solutions to prevent the conflict from escalating further, particularly the ongoing crisis in Yemen. "We hope that Arab countries will also work together to promote peace," he said. Kalla stressed that the internal conflict in Yemen should not continue, as it has the potential to further destabilize the Middle East.

"The Houthis themselves should also exercise restraint and seek peace with the government. We must not allow Yemen's internal war to create additional problems across the Middle East," he said.

The former Vice President also called on all parties—including Saudi Arabia, Iran, and the United States—to exercise restraint to prevent the conflict from escalating further.

Regarding the developments, Kalla believes Indonesia has a significant opportunity to take the initiative in promoting peace through diplomatic channels. "As the country with the world's largest Muslim population, Indonesia should also take the initiative," he said.

Moreover, Kalla underscored that conflicts can only be resolved through dialogue rather than violence. "Everything can be resolved if there are dialogue and mutual understanding," he asserted.

For that reason, he said Indonesia is well-positioned to serve as a bridge for communication between countries in conflict. "Indonesia is ready to become, so to speak, a trusted listener among these countries because we are relatively more secure here in Southeast Asia," he said.