Giorgia Meloni declared the U.S.-Israeli bombing campaign in Iran “outside the perimeter of international law” and made clear that Italy would not participate. Her remarks came after initial hesitation on television, where she refused to take a side, citing insufficient information. By Thursday, under pressure from opposition voices demanding clarity, Meloni went further, likening the strikes to Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine and calling for the perpetrators of the missile attack on Shajareh Tayyebeh girls’ school in Minab, southern Iran, to be identified swiftly.
The Italian leader’s stance puts her in an awkward position: she has cultivated a personal and political rapport with Donald Trump, who recently praised her publicly and highlighted her as an ally. Yet Meloni’s condemnation of the attacks reflects both public opinion in Italy—where 59 percent disapprove of the U.S. strikes—and the complex realities of international diplomacy. She stressed that while Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons is deeply concerning, Italy cannot endorse unilateral military action that violates international norms.
Meloni’s careful balancing act also addresses domestic pressures. Rising fuel costs linked to halted shipping in the Gulf threaten to add billions to Italian energy and petrol bills, while a national referendum on justice reform looms, potentially turning into a broader judgment on her leadership and her stance toward Trump’s policies. Political observers note that her opposition to the strikes is shaped not only by public sentiment but also by strategic considerations, including Italy’s trade ties with Iran and security risks at home.
Despite the criticism of U.S. action, Meloni reaffirmed Italy’s commitment to addressing Iran’s nuclear ambitions, emphasizing the dangers of a regime she described as “fundamentalist” and prone to regional aggression. Her speech highlights the precarious line leaders walk between international alliances, domestic opinion, and moral responsibility in an increasingly volatile geopolitical landscape.
