During a speech at a business event in Jakarta on 1 August, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto made a surprising and unbacked statement about Iran. He declared to a room of corporate leaders that Iran already possesses nuclear weapons. His exact words, as published, were: 'It is said that Iran already has nuclear weapons.' The remark came without evidence or explanation, yet it was delivered with the authority of a national leader.
The statement was followed by a speculative sequence suggesting that if Saudi Arabia desired a nuclear weapon, others in the region—including the UAE, Qatar, and Egypt—might consider following suit. Inspections have consistently found no evidence of a military programme, only peaceful uses like energy generation and medical research.
No evidence, just assertion
Prabowo made no mention of the source of his information. He did not claim to have reviewed reports or consulted experts. Instead, he treated the idea as a fact, a claim that had been made before but never verified by Indonesia’s own intelligence agencies or by independent analysts.
The statement echoed a narrative long pushed by the U.S. and Israel, who have sought to brand Iran as a regional threat. By not attributing it or acknowledging the controversy around the claim, Prabowo left his comments open to criticism. Iran itself did not let the remark go unanswered, responding directly to the speech just one day later.
Regional diplomacy at stake
The countries Prabowo specifically named—Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar—are among Indonesia’s most important allies in the Gulf. For the last two years, these nations have quietly worked to restore their diplomatic ties with Iran. In 2023, Saudi Arabia and Iran re-established direct relations, signaling a step toward regional reconciliation.
However, by suggesting that these countries might now pursue nuclear weapons, Prabowo undermined the very efforts to mend fences between them and Iran. His speculation came out of nowhere, and it clashed with the diplomatic work those governments have been pursuing in secret. It was an odd and careless move given the delicate state of their relations.
The remark also damaged Indonesia's growing reputation in the Middle East. For years, Jakarta has positioned itself as a mediator between Muslim-majority countries and global powers, particularly in criticizing Israel's actions in Gaza and supporting the Palestinian cause. Iran, too, has been a key player in this narrative, having supported Palestinian groups in recent conflicts.
Prabowo's offhand comment about Iran’s nuclear programme now casts doubt on Indonesia’s commitment to understanding the region accurately. For Iran, it could mean questioning whether Indonesia’s solidarity with the Palestinian cause is as genuine as it appears.
A response from Iran
Iran's embassy in Jakarta quickly responded to the speech. Just 24 hours after the remarks, it released a public statement denying the claim outright. Ambassador Mohammad Boroujerdi said that Iran has 'never pursued nuclear weapons and never will.' The response made it clear that Iran saw the comment as a serious misrepresentation.
Boroujerdi also pointed out that Iran had already proven its strength during the recent twelve-day war with the U.S. and Israel. He argued that no nuclear weapon was needed to make that point. Earlier this year, the IAEA’s chief had once again confirmed that there was no evidence Iran was developing such weapons—even during wartime.
The lack of scrutiny around the claim stood out. Unlike Iran, Israel's own undeclared nuclear arsenal is rarely the subject of public debate or international criticism. This double standard further highlighted the flawed nature of Prabowo’s remarks, which came without any factual basis.
By making this unverified statement in front of a gathering of business leaders and with cameras rolling, Prabowo opened himself to long-term consequences. Any future remarks about the region will now be evaluated in light of this error. It may take years to rebuild the trust he has undermined in just one afternoon.