Italy expresses solidarity with the people of Iran.

Italy expressed solidarity with the civilian population of Iran following the joint attack launched by the United States and Israel against the country, which resulted in the death of the supreme leader. Ali Khamenei and Iranian military leaders. The government called for a reduction in tensions in the region.

The position was announced after an emergency meeting convened by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to discuss the crisis in the Middle East. The meeting took place at the Palazzo Chigi, the seat of the Italian government.

According to the official statement, "At this particularly difficult time, Italy renews its solidarity with the Iranian civilian population, which courageously continues to demand respect for its civil and political rights."

The statement also informs that Meloni "It will remain in contact with key allies and leaders in the region to support any initiative that could lead to a reduction in tensions."

Negotiation defense

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani participated in the meeting. He stated that allowing Iran to develop a nuclear bomb would be "very dangerous," but advocated for a negotiated solution.

"The crisis is in their hands [the US and Iran], since the negotiations were between Americans and Iranians," he said.

“We hope that an agreement can be reached even during the war, but the situation has worsened. We have always supported negotiations, but we have always said that Iran cannot have nuclear weapons. Our line is negotiation; the solution is never to resolve things with war,” Tajani told an Italian broadcaster.

The minister also stated that the conflict will not be a "lightning" war. "It should last for days and days," he stressed, in a meeting with journalists at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Tajani warned that Iran risks becoming "isolated" if it decides to "escalate the war." "We hope the situation doesn't worsen," he stated.

Italian military personnel in the region

Italy maintains approximately 300 troops at a base in Kuwait, one of the countries targeted in the Iranian retaliation. Tajani reported that no Italians were injured in the attacks.