The joint virtual session between the Iranian Institute for Political and International Studies (IPIS) and the Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia (FPCI) about the regional, bilateral and international issues was held on Wednesday, March 2, 2021.

The session was attended by Dr.Mohammad KazemSajjadpour, Deputy Minister of MOFA & President of IPIS; Mr.Majid Ghafelebashi, Research Deputy at the Center; Hassan Molaabdollahi, Senior Expert at IPIS; and Ali khoshroo, Former Iranian Ambassador at the UN, on one side and, Mr.Dino Patti Djalal, President of FPCI; Bagus Hendraning Kobarsyih, Jatmiko Heru Prasetyo, Senior Researchers at FPCI, on the other side.

The session was held in the form of two panels, “Regional Developments in the Southeast Asia and Persian Gulf Regions”, and “the New US administration’s New Approaches”, to answer the following questions, (1) What are the main challenges lying ahead of peace and stability in the Southeast Asia and Persian Gulf Regions? (2) What are the impacts of the new US administration on international issues? 

Here are the most important issues touched upon at the session:

• The warm and cordial relations between Iran and Indonesia for over 70 years have been based on mutual interests. The trade ties of the two countries, despite challenges and some problems including the corona pandemic in 2020, have experienced considerable growth compared to last year.
• The Iran/Indonesia relations, as two important countries in the Muslim world, can have substantial effects on expanding ties among Muslim countries as well as on establishment of peace and stability in the region. However, the priority for cooperation between the two countries is in mutual terms such as on expansion of trade and cooperation on health and research.
• Iran and Indonesia see themselves committed to keeping peace and stability in the region through dialogue. Iran and Indonesia’s cooperation through regional organizations such as the Organization of the Islamic Conference can guarantee collective interests of Muslim countries.
• The Palestine issue is at the heart of the developments in the Muslim world and any developments in this regard can influence the entire Muslim world.
• The previous US administration’s withdrawal from some international agreements such as the JCPOA is the main cause for some instabilities and tensions in the Persian Gulf region. However, the new US administration has stated return to multilaterism and international agreements is one of its main priorities for its foreign policy. For this, unconditional US return to the JCPOA can resolve one of the major challenges of this region.