In an interview with Corriere della Sera newspaper, also published on the Foreign Ministry’s official website, Tajani referred to his May 8 meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and the attacks by US President Donald Trump on the Italian government, which he rejected.

The Italian minister asserted that his government was not even notified of the US and Israeli war on Iran, which began on February 28, and ruled out any participation in it, although he expressed interest in collaborating to achieve peace.

“We were not involved in Iran, nor were we even warned. We also share the goal of pacifying the region, and we hope for a dialogue that leads to peace,” the diplomat stated, and added that, regarding the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, “we will do everything necessary to guarantee respect for international maritime law.”

He emphasized, “There are energy difficulties, and also difficulties with the flow of fertilizers produced by Gulf countries and blocked in the Strait of Hormuz,” and, along with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the Rome Coalition was founded with countries that need those resources.

“Everywhere, Italy asks for and offers to work for stability and reduce tensions,” Tajani stated, and cited as an example his country’s military participation in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), a country to which it also provides defense and security assistance.

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