Meloni Criticizes US-Israeli War on Iran, Signals Italy’s Non-Participation

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni delivered her strongest rebuke yet of the U.S.-Israeli military actions against Iran, characterizing the conflict as part of a concerning trend of interventions conducted outside the bounds of international law. This stance marks a significant departure from the more cautious approach adopted by most other European nations.

Growing European Concerns

Meloni’s criticism comes amid increasing pressure from opposition parties within Italy who have accused her government of being too lenient towards its allies. While most European countries have largely refrained from direct condemnation of the U.S. And Israel, instead calling for restraint, Spain has notably prohibited the use of its military bases for operations related to the conflict Reuters.

Nuclear Proliferation Concerns

Despite her criticism of the military actions, Meloni emphasized the critical importance of preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons. She warned that Iran’s acquisition of nuclear capabilities would dismantle the international non-proliferation framework, posing a “dramatic” threat to global security and leaving Italy and Europe vulnerable Reuters.

Conflict Disrupts Global Energy Supplies

The conflict between the U.S., Israel, and Iran has entered its twelfth day, significantly disrupting global energy markets. The hostilities have halted approximately one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas supplies due to the suspension of maritime traffic in the Middle East Reuters.

Italy’s Position and Regional Security

Meloni announced that Italy is prepared to offer air defense support to Gulf states that have been targeted by Iran’s retaliatory strikes. She underscored that this assistance is not only a gesture of solidarity with allies and strategic partners but also a measure to protect the thousands of Italian citizens residing in the affected countries, as well as the approximately 2,000 Italian soldiers stationed in the Persian Gulf Reuters.

Parallel to Ukraine Conflict

Drawing parallels to Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Meloni argued that both conflicts contribute to a broader pattern of international destabilization. She highlighted the increasing frequency of “unilateral interventions outside the scope of international law” as a major source of concern Reuters.

Italy Will Not Participate in Strikes

Prime Minister Meloni has explicitly stated that Italy will not participate in the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, instead focusing on supporting a diplomatic resolution to the crisis Bloomberg.

Condemnation of School Strike

Meloni also condemned the missile strike on a school in southern Iran, expressing solidarity with the victims and calling for accountability. The incident, which reportedly killed dozens of girls, has become a highly controversial aspect of the conflict Moneycontrol.

The U.S. Has not confirmed responsibility for the school strike, with President Donald Trump blaming Iran while also stating that Washington is investigating the circumstances Moneycontrol.