In a statement released on Friday, February 27, 2026, the ministry said: “Italian nationals who are in Iran for tourism or whose presence is not strictly necessary are requested to leave the country.”
The ministry also urged Italian citizens to avoid traveling to Iraq and Lebanon. Italians currently in Israel were advised to exercise maximum caution and remain vigilant.
In recent days, several governments have issued similar warnings. The United Kingdom announced on Friday that, amid rising regional tensions, it had temporarily withdrawn its staff from Iran and closed its embassy.
The United States has also reinforced its military presence across the Middle East amid the possibility of a strike on Iran, while talks between Washington and Tehran over Iran’s nuclear program continue without signs of progress or agreement.
Night Flights from Istanbul to Tehran Canceled
Meanwhile, Istanbul Airport announced that late-night flights to Tehran operated by Turkish Airlines and two Iranian carriers scheduled after 10:00 p.m. had been canceled.
Four additional flights to Tehran scheduled for Saturday were also canceled, although six other flights remain on schedule.
A Turkish Airlines flight to Tabriz in northwestern Iran, scheduled for early Saturday morning, was likewise canceled.
Turkish authorities did not comment on developments in Iran on Friday and, unlike many other countries advising their citizens against travel to Iran, did not join that trend.
Yahya Ustun, spokesperson for Turkish Airlines, later wrote on the social media platform X: “We have no flight cancellations. Our flights, which operate under daily flight conditions, continue as scheduled.”
Turkey shares a 550-kilometer (340-mile) border with Iran, including three official border crossings.
