Italy is working with international partners to bring the parties involved in the escalating Iran conflict back to the negotiating table, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Friday. Rome continues to pursue diplomacy in response to the crisis.
In a message posted on X, Meloni said the Italian government was closely monitoring developments in the Middle East while prioritising the safety of Italian citizens in the region.
“We will continue to follow the developments of the crisis in the Middle East with the utmost attention,” she wrote. “The Italian government is working tirelessly, in contact with our allies and regional partners, to monitor the situation and safeguard the security of Italian citizens.”
She added that Italy’s priority is both protecting nationals abroad and supporting initiatives aimed at restoring dialogue between the parties involved in the conflict with Iran.
“The priority is to protect our compatriots and to work, together with our main partners and allies, to support every initiative that can lead to a return to diplomacy and dialogue between the parties,” Meloni said.
Italy seeks de-escalation
Italy’s diplomatic stance was echoed by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, who told the Italian parliament that Rome was actively working to reduce tensions.
“The guiding principle of our commitment remains de-escalation,” Tajani said. “We absolutely want to avoid a widening of the conflict.”
While emphasising the need for dialogue with Tehran, Tajani reiterated Italy’s position that Iran must not acquire nuclear weapons or missile systems capable of threatening Israel, the wider Middle East, or Europe.
He also highlighted the scale of Italy’s involvement in managing the humanitarian dimension of the crisis. According to the foreign ministry, roughly 100,000 Italian nationals are directly or indirectly affected by developments in the region.
“The safety of our fellow Italian citizens is the top priority,” Tajani said, noting that the government’s Gulf task force has handled around 14,000 phone calls and several thousand emails from people seeking assistance.
Authorities have already helped about 10,000 Italians leave areas considered at risk.
Also read: Italy sending naval personnel to protect Cyprus
Concerns over international law
Meanwhile Defence Minister Guido Crosetto told lawmakers that the conflict had raised serious questions about international law.
Responding to criticism from opposition parties, Crosetto said the attacks that triggered the current escalation — carried out by Israel and the United States against Iranian targets — had violated established legal norms.
“Of course it certainly violated international law,” he said during a parliamentary briefing. “It’s a war that began without the world’s knowledge and that we now find ourselves having to manage.”
Crosetto added that Italy’s main task was to deal with the consequences of a crisis it had not sought.
European coordination
Meloni has also been coordinating closely with European partners. On Friday she joined a call with Keir Starmer, Friedrich Merz and Emmanuel Macron, during which the leaders of the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Italy agreed to work together on diplomacy and military coordination in response to the crisis.
The leaders said their governments would remain in close contact as the situation evolves, focusing on stabilising the region and preventing further escalation.
Parliamentary debate ahead
Meloni has faced criticism from opposition parties for not addressing parliament sooner about the conflict. The prime minister said she will formally report to lawmakers on the crisis on March 11.
In the meantime, the government says it will continue to monitor both the security implications and the economic impact of the war, particularly on energy markets and global trade.
“Italy will continue to do its part with responsibility and determination,” Meloni said.
