Türkiye is preparing emergency plans to deal with a possible influx of migrants from neighboring Iran as tensions in the Middle East continue to rise. The announcement was made by Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi, who said authorities have developed several strategies to manage potential migration flows if the conflict worsens.
Speaking in Ankara on March 4, the minister explained that the government has designed three different scenarios to address a possible migration wave. These plans come as the conflict involving Iran entered its sixth day following joint strikes by the United States and Israel on key Iranian facilities.
According to the minister, the first scenario focuses on stopping and managing migration movements before they reach the Turkish border. Authorities would attempt to intercept potential migrants on the Iranian side and prevent large groups from crossing into Türkiye.
The second scenario would involve the creation of buffer zones along the border if migration cannot be stopped earlier. These areas would be used to control and manage people attempting to move toward Türkiye’s territory while maintaining border security.
If the first two measures fail, the third scenario would allow migrants to enter Türkiye under controlled conditions. The government has already prepared initial capacity to accommodate up to 90,000 people through temporary shelters and tent camps that could be set up in different locations across the country.
Despite these preparations, officials say there has been no unusual migration movement at the main border crossings between Türkiye and Iran. The two nations share a 500-kilometer border, and authorities reported that entry and exit numbers have remained relatively stable in recent days.
Turkish Trade Minister Ömer Bolat also confirmed that both countries have temporarily suspended day-trip crossings along the border. However, Iran continues to allow its citizens to return through Türkiye, while Turkish citizens and third-country nationals are permitted to enter Türkiye from Iran.
Türkiye has previously faced large migration waves during regional conflicts. The country was heavily affected by the refugee crisis caused by the Syrian Civil War and currently hosts more than 2.3 million Syrian refugees.
Officials say the government is closely monitoring the situation, as further escalation of the conflict involving Iran could destabilize the region and trigger new migration pressures across neighboring countries. At present, Türkiye hosts more than 74,000 Iranian residents with valid permits and about 5,000 recognized refugees.