Italy condemns Tehran’s destabilizing actions while avoiding direct military involvement, relying instead on diplomacy, regional deployments, and coordination with allies.
Why it matters: In her address to the Italian Senate ahead of the European Council — which she chose to anticipate in order to bring the rapidly evolving Middle East crisis directly into the parliamentary debate — Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni framed the regional tensions as part of a broader breakdown of the international order, with Iran emerging as a central destabilizing actor.
The big picture: Meloni described the current phase as one of the most complex turning points in recent history, marked by a visible crisis of international law and the erosion of a shared global order.
- In her view, the turning point was Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which triggered a chain reaction of instability extending beyond Europe and into the Middle East.
What she said:
- On Iran: “We cannot afford a regime of the Ayatollahs in possession of a nuclear weapon, combined with a missile capability that could soon be able to strike Italy and Europe directly.”
- On the Middle East: “The global destabilization that followed has also had repercussions in the Middle East, where the current conflict has a clear starting date — and it is not February 28, 2026, but October 7, 2023.”
Iran at the center of regional tensions: According to the Prime Minister, Iran plays a pivotal role in fueling instability across the region.
- Meloni cited Tehran’s financial and logistical backing for Hamas, including support linked to the October 7 attack against Israel.
- The Italian prime minister also pointed to Iran’s long‑standing support for Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthi movement in Yemen, the Assad regime in Syria, and armed groups operating in Iraq and Afghanistan.
- She also highlighted Iran’s strategic alignment with Russia, noting the supply of Shahed drones used in attacks against Ukrainian civilian targets.
The nuclear concern. A major source of concern, according to Meloni, is Iran’s nuclear program.
- She pointed to uranium enrichment levels reaching around 60% — a threshold close to weapons‑grade material — alongside the development of missile capabilities that could potentially reach Europe.
Italy’s position on military escalation. Despite the sharp criticism of Tehran, Meloni made clear that Italy is not participating in military operations carried out by the United States or Israel against Iranian targets and does not intend to do so.
- Rome’s approach combines political condemnation of Iran’s destabilizing actions with a preference for diplomatic channels and efforts aimed at protecting civilians.
- Italy is coordinating this approach with EU partners and the UK.
Zoom out: Italy’s diplomatic channel. While Meloni outlined the strategic framework, Italy’s diplomatic activity is continuing in parallel. On Tuesday, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani held calls with Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al‑Thani and with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, part of Rome’s effort to maintain constant diplomatic contacts since the start of the war.
- Tajani strongly condemned the latest Iranian attacks against Qatar, describing them as unacceptable and stressing that the shared objective remains a political solution to the crisis.
- He also underlined the importance of protecting freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and maritime security in the region, while thanking Doha for assisting Italian citizens during the emergency.
- In his conversation with Fidan, Tajani expressed Italy’s solidarity with Turkey after incursions into its airspace and stressed that all regional actors should show prudence and moderation to prevent further escalation.
- Rome sees Ankara as a potentially useful diplomatic interlocutor and shares with Turkey the goal of avoiding disruptions to shipping through Hormuz and preventing the conflict from spilling over into the global economy.
Zoom in: Lebanon and the UNIFIL mission. PM Meloni described the situation in Lebanon as particularly fragile following Hezbollah’s decision to engage Israel militarily.
- The security of Italian troops deployed within the UNIFIL mission — more than 1,000 soldiers — was described as an absolute priority. She called on Israel to ensure the safety of the United Nations contingent after recent incidents involving the mission.
- Italy continues to support Lebanon’s sovereignty, the principle that the state must hold a monopoly over the use of force, and the eventual disarmament of Hezbollah.
- Italian troops, Meloni noted, are also actively engaged in protecting local communities in southern Lebanon, including Christian populations.
The wider regional picture. The government has reinforced security measures across the region as tensions rise.
- Italy has deployed air defense assets to Gulf countries to protect roughly 2,000 Italian troops and tens of thousands of civilians present in the area. Rome has also sent a naval unit to Cyprus following Iranian attacks, as a signal of solidarity.
- At the strategic level, Meloni stressed that NATO and European partners should not overlook the Alliance’s southern flank — including the Mediterranean, Libya, the Sahel, and the Horn of Africa — which she described as just as important as the eastern front.
Domestic implications: The government has also strengthened internal security monitoring in response to the crisis, focusing on the risk of terrorism, including potential lone‑actor attacks.
- Economically, Rome is preparing measures to counter speculation on energy prices. These include activating flexible fuel excise duties and calling on the European Union to temporarily suspend ETS costs for thermoelectric generation during the current energy shock.
The bottom line: PM Meloni’s message is that instability in the Middle East cannot be separated from the wider geopolitical contest reshaping Europe’s security environment.
- For Italy, the response combines strategic alignment with Western partners, regional military vigilance, and an effort to protect national economic stability.
