Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia issued an urgent appeal to the US and Iran to exercise maximum restraint and honor ceasefire agreements, following a major escalation of direct military hostilities in the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday.Speaking at the Jakarta Parliament Complex, Indonesian Deputy Foreign Minister Arrmanatha Nasir expressed deep regret over the renewed armed clashes, warning that a protracted conflict would have severe global repercussions.”We certainly want to continue to encourage the parties to immediately return to the negotiating table and re-establish a ceasefire,” Arrmanatha stated following a working meeting with Commission I of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI).He emphasized that the continuation of the conflict does not only affect the citizens of the two conflicting nations but also poses serious risks to many other countries due to the strategic nature of the region.”We also reiterate our call for all parties to immediately return to a ceasefire and engage in negotiations,” he added.The diplomatic push from Jakarta follows a severe outbreak of violence early Thursday morning local time in the waters of the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, according to news reports.In the immediate aftermath of the clashes, Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters announced the complete closure of the Strait of Hormuz.The vital maritime lane is now barred to all vessels—including commercial merchant ships and oil tankers—due to severe security threats.Initial reports indicated that several US ships near the strait were targeted by missile and drone attacks launched by Iranian armed forces.Concurrently, explosions were reported across Iran's Hormozgan Province—specifically in Sirik, Minab, the port city of Bandar Abbas, and the islands of Qeshm and Hengam—while air defense systems were activated west of Tehran and in Fars Province.The latest maritime battle marks a sharp escalation in regional tensions, which have been steadily intensifying since a joint US-Israeli military operation against Iran on February 28, triggering a volatile cycle of military confrontations and diplomatic standoffs.