Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani held a meeting today with the Ambassadors of Italy to Iran, Israel, Lebanon and the United States to receive an update on the crisis in the Gulf, with specific reference to the situation in the Strait of Hormuz.
Minister Tajani urged the Missions to continue monitoring the security situation closely, including to provide the necessary assistance to Italian nationals in the region.
The meeting also focused on the state of negotiations between the United States and Iran, as well as Europe’s potential role in the Strait of Hormuz and in achieving peace in Lebanon. Ahead of President Trump’s visit to China, the role of the country in facilitating a diplomatic solution to the conflict was also discussed.
The Foreign Minister recalled his yesterday’s telephone conversation with Iranian Minister Abbas Araghchi, to whom he reiterated Italy’s position on the Iranian nuclear programme, emphasising the need to avoid further escalation and reopen the Strait of Hormuz to avert further economic and food security consequences for Africa.
The meeting also addressed the situation in Lebanon, where intense fighting continues in the south of the country. There are already over 1 million displaced people in the country, with rising tensions between religious communities that risk triggering a new civil war.
An assessment was finally made of the recent elections in the Palestinian Territories, which were characterised by a high turnout and the absence of tension or violence – an encouraging sign for dialogue between Israel and Palestine.
