Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani on Monday appealed for national unity as the government works to safeguard Italians in the Middle East.
Reporting to joint foreign affairs committees of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies alongside Defence Minister Guido Crosetto, Tajani said the crisis has a direct impact on Italy’s national security and economic stability.
“Our fellow citizens in the region are our absolute priority,” Tajani said. “Unity, responsibility and balance must prevail.”
He told MPs and senators that around 70,000 Italians are currently in the broader Middle East region, with almost 80% permanently resident there. About 30,000 are in Dubai and Abu Dhabi alone, while fewer than 500 Italian nationals are in Iran, nearly all of them long-term residents.
Tajani announced that, at Italy’s request, Emirati authorities will provide a special flight from Abu Dhabi to Milan to repatriate around 200 Italian students who are minors.
Trade routes and energy security
The foreign minister stressed that the escalating conflict threatens not only citizens abroad but also international trade routes and global energy supplies vital to Italy’s economy.
He reiterated that the government believes diplomacy remains essential. “We believe in diplomacy. Even when it seems difficult. Even when it seems distant. Every crisis requires dialogue and negotiation,” he said, pledging that Rome would continue to work with determination and responsibility to seek de-escalation.
Opposition demands PM briefing
The appeal for unity was met with calls from opposition leaders for Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to address Parliament directly.
Elly Schlein, leader of the Democratic Party (PD), said she appreciated the ministers’ willingness to brief lawmakers but argued that the political implications of the crisis require a statement from the premier.
“We need a clear statement from Meloni,” Schlein told the session. “The political implications affect the entire country.”
Giuseppe Conte, head of the Five Star Movement (M5S) and a former prime minister, described the US-Israeli operation as “a disaster” that risks unrestrained escalation.
“According to the centre-right’s narrative, we’re all in favour of the regime, but that’s not the case: we took to the streets to protest against that brutal regime,” Conte said. “But we can’t rely on bombs to change the regime, because history has never recommended such interventions.”
He warned of civilian casualties and missiles threatening European citizens in the region, and called for clarity on the government’s position.
