President Donald Trump's statement about closing the Strait of Hormuz has drawn a sharp reaction from Iran. The government in Tehran called the threat "an act of piracy" that cannot be tolerated. Meanwhile, thousands of kilometers away from the tension, the Indonesian rupiah against the US dollar has collapsed.

This isn't just a war of words between two bitter rivals. This is the moment when global financial markets, including Indonesia's, are starting to get genuinely nervous.

"A blockade threat is no different from piracy in international waters," an Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson said in an official statement released last night. "If the United States actually does that, they must be prepared for consequences they never imagined."

This statement came less than 24 hours after Trump, in an interview with Fox News, said he is "very serious" about the option of closing the Strait of Hormuz if Iran keeps disrupting passing ships.

What Does "Piracy" Actually Mean?

The term "piracy" chosen by Iran is not just any random word. In international law, piracy at sea is defined as acts of violence, detention, or seizure committed for personal gain in waters not under any state's jurisdiction.

By calling the US threat piracy, Iran wants to send a message: America has no right to close that strait. The Strait of Hormuz, according to Iran, is international waters. Not owned by the US, not owned by Iran, not owned by Saudi Arabia.

A maritime law expert from the University of Indonesia explained this while letting out a sigh.

"Technically, the Strait of Hormuz is indeed international waters. Ships have the right of peaceful passage. But the problem is, who has the power to enforce that rule? There's no world police force on the water. So it is what it is — whoever is stronger, wins."

He said Iran's argument actually has a strong legal basis. But in the world of geopolitics, the law often loses to power.

Rupiah Crashes, Finance Minister Stays Quiet

Back home. The impact of the Gulf tensions has apparently already reached our currency markets.

The rupiah against the US dollar closed yesterday at Rp16,450 per dollar. This figure is down about 1.8 percent from the previous day. In one week, the rupiah has lost more than 3 percent of its value.

A currency market observer who usually hangs around the Sudirman area in Jakarta said this isn't just because of the Hormuz tensions.

"This is an accumulation," he said while sipping coffee at a cafe near the stock exchange. "The Middle East tensions are the trigger. But the market has actually been worried for a long time about our current account deficit, sluggish exports, and struggling industries. This Hormuz news is like a match to gasoline."

At the Finance Minister's office, there hasn't been any overly clear official statement yet. What has come out is just a diplomatic sentence: "The government continues to monitor global dynamics and will take necessary steps to maintain economic stability."

According to analysts, this sentence is code for: "We don't know what to do yet, but we won't stay silent."

What's Actually Happening at the Strait of Hormuz?

Let's step back for a moment. The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula. At its narrowest point, it's only 50 kilometers wide. Through this strait, about 20 percent of the world's crude oil is transported every single day.

Countries like Saudi Arabia, Iraq, the UAE, Kuwait, and Qatar have no choice but to use this strait if they want to export oil by sea. There are alternative pipelines, but their capacity is small.

So if this strait is closed, imagine all the tanker trucks on an inner-city toll road completely gridlocked. Nothing can get in, nothing can get out. That's what would happen to global oil supply.

An Indian tanker captain we managed to reach via satellite phone told us about the atmosphere there.

"Two days ago, we were ordered to turn back by Iranian fast boats. They didn't shoot, but they blocked the route. My boss at the shipping company said, don't take the risk. So now we're drifting in open waters, waiting for good news."

He said his operational costs are ballooning because he has to sail around with no destination. "Insurance is up. Fuel is running out. The crew is getting restless. This is not good."

Why Haven't Gas Station Prices Gone Up Yet?

A question that might be on many people's minds: if global oil prices are rising, why haven't domestic fuel prices gone up yet?

The answer is simple: the government has stock.

A senior official at the Energy Ministry who didn't want to be named said Indonesia still has crude oil and fuel reserves for about 25 days. "That's a rough calculation, yes. But it's enough to keep us from panicking in the near future."

But he also admitted that if the Hormuz tensions last more than a month, then domestic prices will inevitably be affected.

"We can't fight market forces forever. If global crude oil hits $100 per barrel and stays there for two months, then Pertamax prices will definitely go up. That's not a choice. That's a necessity."

Currently, Brent crude oil is hovering around $92 per barrel — up about 15 percent in the past two weeks.

What Are Ordinary People Saying?

On the side of Thamrin Street, we briefly spoke with an online motorcycle taxi driver who was hanging out waiting for orders. His name is Mang Ujang, originally from Garut, and he's been a migrant in Jakarta for three years.

"I heard fuel prices are going up overseas," he said while smoking a cigarette. "I don't really understand it. What I know is, if fuel goes up, my fare goes up. If my fare goes up, passengers complain. If passengers complain, orders drop. In the end, I'm the one who suffers."

He then told me his income has already started dropping this past week. "Usually I make two hundred thousand rupiah net per day. Now maybe one hundred fifty. That's not even including gas. Not including food. Not including money to send back home."

He let out a long sigh. "Please, government. Don't let fuel prices go up. Poor people are already struggling."

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Diplomats in New York are busy holding closed-door meetings. But so far, there's no sign that either the US or Iran is willing to back down.

Trump, as usual, is known for hating to look weak. Meanwhile, Iran is under pressure from a domestic economic crisis and protests in several cities. In situations like this, harsh rhetoric against an external enemy is often the safest choice.

A former Indonesian ambassador to the Gulf states, whom we met in the Kemang area, said we should all prepare for the worst-case scenario.

"I used to think Gulf wars only happened in Hollywood movies. But as time goes on, it feels more and more real. The Strait of Hormuz isn't just a strait. It's the economic lifeline of the world. If that lifeline is cut, the entire body will feel the impact. Including Indonesia."

He said what we can do now is save energy. "There's no harm in that. Better than being shocked later."

Closing: A Story from the Side of the Road

Evening began to fall in Jakarta. Mang Ujang said goodbye because rain was starting to drizzle. Before getting on his motorcycle, he said one sentence that stuck with me.

"I'm just an online motorcycle taxi driver. Nobody important. But I have two kids still in school. My wife sells fried snacks on the side of the road. We don't live a fancy life. So please, the leaders over there, don't play games with war. Have pity on us little people."

He then started his motorcycle, put on a plastic raincoat, and slowly disappeared into the Jakarta rain.

Meanwhile, in Tehran, in Washington, in Riyadh, leaders are still busy deciding whether to pull a trigger or pick up a phone. In the midst of all that, ordinary people in Indonesia can only pray that fuel prices don't go up, that the rupiah doesn't fall further, that life can continue as usual.

But in a world as tense as this one, no one can guarantee anything.

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