REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Indonesia on Monday expressed its readiness to contribute to the efforts to restore relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

President Joko Widodo made the statement when he received a courtesy call from Iran's foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on the sidelines of the 5th Organization of Islamic Conference Extraordinary Summit.

He expressed his appreciation of Iran's restraint that prevented the situation from escalating in the region.

President Joko Widodo congratulated Iran for its success in conducting elections to its parliament and the Assembly of Experts on February 26, 2016.

"This proves that democracy was functioning well in Iran and may bring a change in the world," he said.

Regarding the relations between Indonesia and Iran, President Jokowi, as he is also called, said he hailed various positive developments that have happened so far.

"I am glad at the positive developments in the bilateral relations between Indonesia and Iran," he said.

The improvement in the relations can be seen in the form of the good results during talks on energy and oil and gas sectors between the two countries.

President Jokowi encouraged the implementation of the business-to-business cooperation between the two countries and hoped a number of projects undertaken by the two countries could be immediately realized.

"I have assigned the Indonesian Minister of Energy to follow up on these," he said.

Ikuti Whatsapp Channel Republika