Italy will not participate in strikes against Iran: Meloni's statement
This was reported by Bloomberg.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said that Rome does not intend to join the military operations of the United States and Israel against Iran.
According to her, Italy will focus its efforts on a diplomatic resolution to the situation.
Meloni told lawmakers that the country is distancing itself from direct involvement in combat operations in Iran.
She described the escalation of the conflict as a manifestation of a major crisis in the international legal system.
The Prime Minister also noted that the current confrontation with Iran is one of the most difficult challenges of our time.
In this regard, she called on the political opposition to unite around Italy's national interests.
Meloni spoke about Rome's efforts to prevent war, in particular through cooperation with Qatar and Oman.
She also recalled that Italy has consistently maintained dialogue with Tehran and initiated two rounds of negotiations on the nuclear programme last year.
Meloni paid special attention to economic security.
She promised tough measures against companies that are profiting from energy price hikes amid the war.
The Italian government is considering the possibility of introducing additional taxes for such entities.
Despite criticism of the allies' military methods, the head of the Italian government emphasised the danger posed by the Iranian regime.
According to ANSA, she warned that the Ayatollahs must not be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons and powerful missiles, as this would threaten direct strikes against Europe and, in particular, Italy.
Meloni noted that there is a plan to return to diplomatic instruments, but its implementation is currently blocked due to continuous attacks from Iran.
Finally, she confirmed that Washington has not yet requested the use of military bases on Italian territory to launch strikes against Iran.
At the same time, Meloni added that if such a request were to be made, the final decision would be made by the Italian parliament.
Also, against the backdrop of the war in the Middle East, Italy plans to reduce fuel excise duties by using VAT surpluses.
The Prime Minister announced that a "mobile excise duty" mechanism would be considered to curb prices.
Excise duty accounts for a significant part of the cost of fuel in Italy and is calculated per litre, while VAT is determined as a percentage of the price.
