Georgian Dream Expresses 'Deep Concern' Over Middle East Conflict
By Messenger Staff
Tuesday, March 3, 2026
The Georgian Dream government issued a statement on March 2 expressing its worry regarding the recent military escalation in the Middle East. The message offered condolences to both Iran and Israel and emphasized Georgia's solidarity with Gulf nations as regional violence continues to spread.
The situation in the Middle East worsened significantly after the U.S. and Israel launched joint airstrikes against Iran on February 28. These strikes resulted in the death of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with several other high-ranking officials. Iran responded with retaliatory strikes across the region, targeting locations near U.S. military bases. By Monday morning, Israel also began strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
"The Government of Georgia is following with deep concern the ongoing hostilities in the Middle East, which threaten the security and well-being of every country in the region," the official statement said.
The government first addressed the impact on the Iranian people. The statement noted that "the ongoing hostilities have claimed the highest number of lives there, including the supreme leader, other political leaders, numerous innocent civilians, and dozens of children."
The message then turned to Israel, offering condolences to "our friend, the Jewish people and Israel, for the loss of civilian lives resulting from the hostilities."
A significant portion of the statement focused on Gulf Arab countries, which have been caught in the crossfire of Iran's retaliatory attacks. Georgia expressed "full solidarity" with these nations, noting that it maintains a "distinguished partnership" with them.
"We hope that peace will be restored in the Middle East in the near future, for which hostilities should be replaced by diplomacy and political dialogue," the government stated. The message concluded by promising that the state would take "all necessary measures" to protect Georgian citizens currently in the region.
The focus on the Gulf follows a March 1 phone call between Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and United Arab Emirates President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Kobakhidze wrote on X that he expressed "sincere solidarity and hope for lasting peace." He also noted his "deep appreciation for the exceptional friendship between Georgia and the UAE."
The conflict has also directly affected Georgian Dream officials. Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze is currently in Abu Dhabi, where he had traveled for his birthday, and is unable to return due to widespread flight cancellations linked to ongoing military actions.
