Aysu Bicer
08 April 2026•Update: 08 April 2026
Italy warned on Tuesday that Iranian civilians "cannot and must not pay the price for their rulers' wrongdoings" as it voiced concern about the risk of escalating conflict in the Middle East.
A statement issued by the Italian government came after US President Trump earlier on Tuesday threatened that “a whole civilization will die tonight” as his deadline for a ceasefire agreement with Iran approached.
The Italian government said it is “continuing to follow very closely developments in the Middle East crisis and the risk of further military escalation, which could involve all of Iran’s territory, with no distinction between strategic, military, and civilian targets.”
Rome reiterated “its firm and resolute condemnation of the Tehran regime’s destabilizing conduct,” pointing to “missile attacks threatening the security of Gulf nations” and “repeated acts of intimidation aimed at compromising freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz—a vital artery for the global economy.”
It also cited “systematic and brutal internal repression of its own people.”
However, the government stressed the need to distinguish between Iran’s leadership and its population, saying: “However, it is crucial to draw a clear distinction between the responsibilities of a regime and the fate of millions of ordinary citizens.”
It added that it shares the position of EU institutions on “the need to preserve the integrity of civilian infrastructure as well as the safety of the Iranian people" and said it hopes “that a negotiated solution to the crisis can be reached soon.”
Earlier, Trump threatened to bomb power stations and bridges across Iran if Tehran failed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and reach an agreement by Tuesday at 8 pm EDT (0000GMT on Wednesday).
Regional escalations have continued since Israel and the US launched an offensive against Iran on Feb. 28, killing more than 1,400 people, including then-Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Tehran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military assets, causing casualties and damage to infrastructure and disrupting global markets and aviation.
