Italy will not enter a war, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni told the Senate on Wednesday, as tensions around Iran continue to escalate.
Speaking amid growing international concern over unilateral military interventions, Meloni emphasised that while preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons remains essential, Israel and the United States acted outside international law in recent strikes.
“It is within this context of crisis in the international system, where threats are becoming increasingly alarming and unilateral interventions carried out outside the framework of international law are multiplying, that we must also place the American and Israeli intervention against the Iranian regime,” she said, stressing Italy’s commitment to diplomacy and international law.
The Prime Minister’s statements come ahead of Italy’s upcoming referendum, highlighting the delicate balancing act for her government between security priorities, international obligations, and domestic political pressures.
Analysts say her position seeks to reassure Italian citizens that the country will remain neutral while maintaining a voice in global debates over nuclear proliferation and regional stability.
Meloni clarified that there are currently no requests to host US bases in Italy, underlining that any such decision would be taken by Parliament. She described the situation in the Middle East as one of the “most complex crises,” requiring seriousness, constructive dialogue, and national cohesion rather than political polarisation. “We are not at war, and we do not want to enter a war,” she added, expressing hope that the crisis can be addressed in a spirit of cooperation.
