Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Thursday that restoring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz was of vital interest for her country and the European Union, as she pledged to work with partners to achieve that ai
Giorgia Meloni © Mena Today
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Thursday that restoring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz was of vital interest for her country and the European Union, as she pledged to work with partners to achieve that aim.
Following U.S.- Israeli attacks, Iran restricted traffic through the Strait to pressure its enemies, in a move that drove up energy prices as around a fifth of the world's oil and gas pass through the narrow waterway.
As part of its proposals to end the war, Tehran wants to charge fees for ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
"If Iran were to succeed in obtaining the authority to apply additional tariffs to transits through the Strait, this could still lead to economic consequences and shifts in trade flows," Meloni told the lower house of parliament.
"We are already working with the UK-led coalition for the Strait of Hormuz, which includes more than 30 countries, to try to build security conditions that allow for the full restoration of freedom of navigation and supply," she added.
However, Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini said on Wednesday that Italy would not send any ships to patrol the area in the absence of a U.N. mandate.
Meloni condemned all violations of the two-week ceasefire deal agreed between the U.S. and Iran earlier this week.
She also urged Israel to end military operations in Lebanon, and, with opposition parties accusing her of being too close to President Donald Trump, reiterated her opposition to the U.S. decision to attack Iran.
"We have come within a step of the point of no return, but we now face a fragile prospect of peace that must be pursued with determination," Meloni said.
It was the first time that the Italian leader spoke in parliament since a bruising defeat in a justice reforms referendum two weeks ago that led to some resignations in her government team.
In her roughly one-hour speech, she ruled out any wider cabinet reshuffles and pledged to serve a full parliamentary term, which is scheduled to run until the second half of next year.
By Angelo Amante and Giuseppe Fonte
The United Arab Emirates has agreed to unlock billions of dollars for Iran, four sources said, in a tactical shift after weeks of Iranian attacks on the wealthy Gulf Arab state during the U.S.-Israeli war with the Islamic Republic.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has failed to deliver on promises to secure full access for the Iranian soccer federation to attend the team's three games in the United States, Iran’s World Cup team supervisor told Reuters.
The United States and Iran on Friday appeared to have sharply different understandings of the contents of an emerging pact to end their war, though both sides signalled that an agreement was close.
To make this website run properly and to improve your experience, we use cookies. For more detailed information, please check our Cookie Policy.
Necessary cookies enable core functionality. The website cannot function properly without these cookies, and can only be disabled by changing your browser preferences.