The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani, held a telephone conversation with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Abbas Araghchi. During the call, Minister Tajani urged Iran to refrain from any military escalation in the conflict with Israel, stressing that such a development would pose a serious risk to the stability of the entire region, particularly for the countries directly involved.
“We must urgently return to negotiations and to the path of diplomacy,” Minister Tajani stated, adding that he had conveyed the same message earlier in the day to the Israeli Foreign Minister, Gideon Sa’ar. Minister Tajani also informed his Iranian counterpart that he would remain in close contact over the coming hours with the diplomatic authorities of the United States, Oman and Israel, with a view to keeping open diplomatic channels for the exchange of messages.
Earlier in the morning, Minister Tajani held three additional conversations: with the Director General of the IAEA, Rafael Grossi; with the Israeli Foreign Minister, Gideon Sa’ar; and with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman, Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi. From Director General Grossi, the Minister received an initial assessment regarding the impact of ongoing military operations on Iranian nuclear sites and installations.
In his conversation with the Israeli Foreign Minister, Tajani reiterated the need for an immediate return to negotiations. He further confirmed that, for the Italian Government, securing an immediate halt to military operations in Gaza remains an absolute priority, given the unacceptable toll being inflicted on the Palestinian civilian population.
