Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Wednesday strongly criticized the US-Israeli military campaign in Iran. Speaking in parliament, she described the strikes as part of a growing trend of interventions “outside the scope of international law.”
Earlier in the week, Meloni had expressed a neutral stance, neither condemning nor endorsing the conflict. The shift comes amid domestic pressure, with public opinion in Italy strongly opposed to involvement in another Middle East war.
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Meloni condemned the bombing of a girls’ school that killed 168 people as a “massacre” and called for swift accountability. Reports suggest the strike may have hit a nearby Iranian naval base, likely by US forces.
The prime minister clarified that US-Italian joint bases are only being used for logistical purposes, not for launching strikes. Any combat use would require explicit parliamentary approval, she stressed.
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Meloni now joins EU leaders including Pedro Sánchez, Emmanuel Macron, and Rob Jetten in criticizing the strikes. She emphasized her stance aligns with Spain’s Sánchez, though it is perceived differently in domestic political discourse.