Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has refrained from either condemning or endorsing the recent strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran, citing a lack of sufficient information to form a definitive judgment. The situation adds another layer of complexity to the escalating tensions in the Middle East, where a crisis began on February 28 with attacks on Iran and subsequent retaliatory actions from Tehran.
Responding to criticism that she has remained “silent” regarding the U.S. And Israeli actions, Meloni stated during a February 29 interview with Mediaset, “I am not exactly a silent person, so I neither approve nor condemn [the attacks]. As I objectively do not have the elements to take a categorical position, and almost no one in Europe has this information. Apart from the Spanish Prime Minister, no one has condemned this initiative, and likewise, no one is entering the conflict.”
Meloni acknowledged that U.S. And Israeli officials have indicated their strikes were a consequence of the stalled negotiations surrounding Iran’s nuclear program. She reiterated Italy’s position of not intending to become involved in the conflict or take sides.
The Prime Minister too voiced agreement with Defense Minister Guido Crosetto’s assessment on March 5 that the U.S. And Israel were operating “outside of international law.” “I believe we are facing a situation where the rules of international law have objectively collapsed,” Meloni said.
Drawing a parallel to the war in Ukraine, Meloni continued, “I believe that this collapse did not happen with this event, there are many precedents, but the situation is certainly one of great chaos. The crisis of international law, which began structurally with the invasion of Ukraine, because how do you apply international law? Theoretically by the United Nations, but we have the anomaly of a member of the Security Council who four years ago attempted to annex the territory of its neighbor.”
Italy has established a monitoring mechanism to assess whether the crisis in the Middle East is contributing to unjustified price increases in fuel and food products, Meloni added.
Meanwhile, former U.S. President Donald Trump praised Meloni in a brief statement to Corriere della Sera on March 8, stating she has “always tried to help” and calling her “an excellent leader and a friend.”
Prime Minister Meloni is scheduled to address Parliament on Wednesday, March 11, to provide an update on the crisis in the Middle East.
The Italian Prime Minister’s cautious stance reflects a broader European hesitancy to escalate involvement in a volatile region. The development underscores growing regional tensions and the challenges to established norms of international conduct.
