As the biggest Muslm country in the world with close relations with Iran, the Indonesian government has made a series of efforts recently in a bit to seek a peaceful solution of the Iranian crisis.

On Thursday, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono had a telephone discussion with United Nations' Secretary General Kofi Annan on the Iranian nuclear program, reiterating the need to maximize efforts through diplomatic channels to solve the issue.

He also stressed the importance of efforts to avoid the outbreak of open conflict that could harm the people and affect world oil prices.

Yudhoyono emphasized the need for Iran to abide by all provisions set by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and for the world to listen to IAEA director general's report on March 6, 2006.

"We are waiting for the IAEA director general's report. We also hope that Iran would soon make a final decision on the Russian offer for the enrichment of its uranium," Indonesian Foreign Ministry spokesman Dino Patti Djalal said.

Yudhoyono hoped that no action would be taken against Iran before the IAEA makes its report on March 6.

The Indonesian government has expressed its clear position in regard to the Iranian nuclear issue, saying that Iran should have a right to utilize its nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, and that Iran's nuclear program should remain in the corridor of peace.

On Wednesday, Yudhoyono met with Iranian Ambassador to Indonesia Shaban Shahidi Madab at the presidential office to explain Indonesia's stance.

As part of an effort to ease the tension, earlier on Tuesday, Yudhoyono also invited the ambassadors of five UN Security Council members: Russia, the United States, China, Britain and France, in addition to two others, namely from Germany and Austria, to brief them on Indonesia's stance on the crisis.

Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda said, Yudhoyono urged these countries to go the "extra mile" to negotiate a peaceful solution to the crisis.

"Through the meeting, Indonesia expects these countries to forward our standpoint and consider our thoughts during the Feb. 2 meeting of the United Nation Security Council," said Hassan, adding that Indonesia would only support Iran's nuclear program if it was for peaceful purposes, not for military ones.

Russia has offered Iran the enrichment of its uranium.

Iran and Russia would meet on Feb. 16 for "technical negotiations" about the Russian offer for uranium enrichment.

Earlier Hassan asked Iran to accept an offer from Russia to enrich uranium in Russia, in a bid to diminish suspicions from western countries that Iran develops its nuclear for military purpose.

"Allowing the crisis to grow would have a negative economic effect for developing nations," Hasan warned.

The price of crude oil reached more than 68 U.S. dollars a barrel on concerns over Iran. According to analysts, oil prices could skyrocket to above 100 U.S. dollars a barrel should there be no immediate and peaceful solution to the crisis.

Iran produces 4.2 million barrels per day (bpd) of oil and exports 2.7 million bpd, mainly to China, Japan and Europe. As the second largest producer after Saudi Arabia in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Iran has oil reserves estimated at 125.8 billion barrels, some 10 percent of the world total.

A political scientist said here Thursday that President Yudhoyono can play a strategic role in contributing peace to conflicting parties with regard to the Iranian nuclear issue.

"Indonesia had started playing an active role when the President asked the ambassadors not to exert pressure on Iran but gave priority to diplomatic channels in reducing the conflict," Denny Hermawan of the Bogor-based University of Djuanda's Social and Political Faculty said.

He said that the nuclear crisis had once again cropped up between Iran on the one hand, and the United States and its West European allies on the other.

Indonesia's stand in connection with the nuclear tension was encouraging all parties to give maximum support to the talks between Iran and three European countries, namely Britain, France and Germany.

Indonesia did not want all parties, especially Western countries, to think that there was no longer an opportunity for negotiations on the matter and "refer the case to the UN Security Council soon," he stressed.

Source: Xinhua