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Italy plans to send air defense assistance to Gulf countries, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Thursday.
“Like the United Kingdom, France and Germany, Italy intends to send assistance to the Gulf countries, specifically in the defense sector and especially in air defense,” Ms. Meloni told radio station RTL 102.5.
"This is not just because they are friendly countries, but mainly because tens of thousands of Italians live in the region and around 2,000 Italian soldiers are stationed there - people we love and must protect," she added.
She criticized Iran's actions, saying the Islamic Republic "is bombing neighboring countries, including those that had worked to secure an agreement on the Iranian nuclear program." According to her, resuming negotiations on the nuclear program will be difficult if Iran does not stop attacks on Gulf countries, which she said risk escalating the conflict.
Meloni also clarified that so far Italy has not received any requests from the United States for the use of American military bases on Italian territory for operations related to the current situation.
She emphasized that the use of these bases is regulated by bilateral agreements that date back to 1954 and have been updated over the years.
However, Italy, along with the United Kingdom, France and Germany, intends to send aid to the Gulf countries, mainly in the field of defense and air defense.
According to the Prime Minister, this is related not only to friendly relations with these countries, but also to the presence of Italian citizens and military personnel in the region.
"There are tens of thousands of Italians in that area and about two thousand soldiers we have to protect. The bay is also vital for supplies," she said.
In the interview, Meloni also commented on the situation in Gaza, criticizing the left-wing opposition in Italy for what she described as contradictory positions on the conflict. She stressed that Italy aims to play a role in peace efforts and to turn a fragile ceasefire into a more lasting agreement.
Meanwhile, the war in the Middle East continues into its sixth day. The Revolutionary Guard claims to have hit an American tanker in the Persian Gulf,
Iranian Foreign Minister threatens US to "feel bitter regret for sinking Iranian frigate in Sri Lanka".
Iran says "we did not fire a missile at Turkey, we respect its territorial integrity, it is a friend and neighbor."
A new wave of bombings in Tehran was announced by the IDF on Thursday morning.
The Iranians say they fired missiles at the headquarters of Kurdish forces in the autonomous Kurdistan region of Iraq.
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