TOKYO, April 1. /TASS/. Russia is ready to begin supplying oil to Indonesia’s state-owned company Pertamina if it approaches Moscow with a request, Antara agency reported citing Russian Ambassador to Indonesia Sergey Tolchenov.

The diplomat told journalists that Russia has not yet received official requests either from the state company or from Indonesia’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, but remains open to discussing possible proposals. Tolchenov assured that Moscow is ready to show flexibility when agreeing on supply terms.

In mid-March, Indonesia’s Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia said that the republic does not rule out purchasing Russian oil to stabilize the energy market amid the conflict in the Middle East. Earlier, Detik portal Freported that the Indonesian government had announced a temporary freeze on fuel prices, while Pertamina pledged not to change fuel prices regardless of the availability of subsidies. According to Jakarta Globe newspaper, the authorities are ready to allocate 6.2 trillion rupiah (about $365.5 mln) to the state company to compensate for costs.

On February 28, the United States and Israel began a war against Iran. The largest Iranian cities, including Tehran, came under strikes. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced a large-scale retaliatory operation, attacking Israel. The Iranian authorities also decided to close the Strait of Hormuz to vessels linked to the United States, Israel and countries that supported aggression against the Islamic Republic. About one fifth of global oil supplies pass through the strait.