Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni told parliament that recent military strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran were conducted outside the framework of international law, while stressing that Italy was not involved in the operation.
Speaking in the Senate on Wednesday, Meloni said the current crisis in the Middle East represented one of the most complex geopolitical situations in decades.
“It is in this situation of crisis of the international system, in which threats are becoming increasingly terrifying and unilateral interventions conducted outside the perimeter of international law are multiplying, that we must also place the American and Israeli intervention against the Iranian regime,” she said.
Meloni added that the strikes were “an intervention that Italy is not part of and does not intend to take part in”, despite her government’s close relations with the administration of US President Donald Trump.
The prime minister addressed parliament to outline the government’s position on the conflict after opposition parties criticised her for not reporting earlier to lawmakers.
Rejects accusations of complicity
She rejected accusations that her government had been complicit in decisions taken by other countries or isolated within Europe.
“We do not have a government here that is complicit in other people’s decisions, much less one that is isolated in Europe, or culpable for the economic consequences the crisis may have on citizens and businesses,” she said.
Meloni also called for political unity in responding to the crisis and said the government would continue to engage with parliament on developments in the region.
The prime minister reiterated that Washington had not requested permission to use US military bases located in Italy for attacks against Iran. She added that any such request would require parliamentary approval.
Despite criticising the legality of the strikes, Meloni said the Iranian regime still posed a serious security concern.
“We cannot afford a regime of ayatollahs in possession of nuclear weapons, combined with a missile capability that could soon be able to directly strike Italy and Europe even more,” she told senators.
Evaluating diplomatic initiatives
Meloni said Italy was evaluating the possibility of supporting diplomatic initiatives aimed at easing tensions but warned that a return to negotiations would be difficult while hostilities continued.
She also addressed reports of civilian casualties during the first day of the conflict, including the destruction of a girls’ elementary school in the city of Minab in southern Iran.
According to Iranian media, between 168 and 180 people were killed in the incident, most of them schoolchildren.
“Responsibility must be ascertained for the massacre of girls in southern Iran,” Meloni said. “The safety of civilians and children must be protected.” The remarks were the only part of the speech that received applause from both the opposition benches and members of the governing coalition.
