In parliament

Meloni: 'War on Iran out of law'. Table with the oppositions immediately

The premier in the Senate: ready to raise taxes on fuel speculators

by Rome Editorial Staff

11 March 2026

Iran, Meloni: ''Italia non è in guerra e non intende esserlo''

6' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

Key points

US and Israel intervention against Iran outside international law
No request for US bases, in case Parliament decides
Accusing perpetrators of the massacre of girls in Iran
Ready to raise taxes on fuel speculators

6' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

She began in the Senate with an appeal for 'national cohesion' and the proposal for a 'table with the oppositions at Palazzo Chigi'. But in the House Giorgia Meloni ends the day of communications on the crisis in Iran by claiming, 'happy', to 'be different from you'. That is, from the PD and M5s, accused of having made 'cheap propaganda' when in 2020 the US killed the Iranian general Soleimani. In between is the centre-left's icy reaction to the offer: it is late, they say in summary. For Giuseppe Conte, it risked being just 'a parade at Palazzo Chigi, a mockery'. 'It took her 12 days and her appeal lasted a couple of hours, then it came back to her. President Meloni, put the club down, Italia does not deserve mud wrestling,' Elly Schlein's lunge. Beyond the Maga-style hats sported by the M5s senators, the first half-day in Parliament recorded sparks at a minimum. On the twelfth day of conflict, the premier gives a speech in which every sentence is calibrated.

"Here there is no government complicit in the decisions of others, nor isolated in Europe, nor guilty of the economic consequences that the crisis may have on citizens and businesses. These are all things that I have heard in recent days and that do not do justice to the commitment we have made in this delicate quadrant of geopolitics and which we have intensified in recent days'. This is how Giorgia Meloni began in the Senate, in her communications ahead of the EU Council and on the crisis in the Middle East. Then, in her reply to the senators' speeches, she said she was open to a round table at Palazzo Chigi with the oppositions.

US and Israeli intervention against Iran outside international law

That of the US and Israel in Iran is "an intervention in which Italia does not take part and does not intend to take part," the Prime Minister stressed. "It is in this context of crisis in the international system in which threats are becoming increasingly frightening and unilateral interventions conducted outside the perimeter of international law are multiplying that we must also place the American and Israeli intervention against the Iranian regime". On the other hand, Meloni added, "we cannot afford a regime of the ayatollahs in possession of the nuclear weapon, combined with a missile capacity that could soon be able to strike Italy and Europe even more directly". "We are determined to maintain a connection" with European partners "to spare no effort" and "restore stability in the area" said the premier who also spoke of a "plan" to assess the margins "of a return of diplomacy" which is however "impossible as long as Iran" continues its "attacks".

Perché è davvero una nuova Guerra del Golfo

No request for US bases, in case Parliament decides

"The bases granted to the US," Meloni clarified, "depend on agreements that have always been updated by governments of all colours: should a request come in, it would always be up to the government" to make a decision, "but I repeat the decision in that case" would be entrusted "to Parliament. I also reiterate in the same way that to date no request has been received'.

Accusing those responsible for the massacre of the girls in Iran

In her remarks, Meloni recalled the 'massacre of girls in southern Iran' and called for 'accountability'. "The safety of civilians and children must be preserved," she added.

Israel guarantees the safety of Unifil soldiers in Lebanon

"The situation in Lebanon is delicate" and "the decision of a new war against Israel is dastardly," Meloni told the Senate. She explained that she had spoken with Netanyahu, expressing to him "Italia's opposition to any escalation" without prejudice to Israel's right to defend itself "against Hezbollah attacks". In Lebanon, he continued, 'there are over a thousand Italian soldiers of the Unifil mission. The security of the personnel must be guaranteed at all times, we reiterate the request to Israel'.

"If we wanted to extend Unifil we would have to review the rules of engagement"

On Unifil, the Prime Minister toned down her reply at the end of the senators' speeches by saying that there are "perplexities: on the one hand, we believe that in the current context the mission remains important but you know that the rules of engagement that it has had in recent years would not be sufficient to deal with the current crisis. The debate must be of this kind: I am more than in favour and I have pointed out what I did not agree with about the US initiative with respect to Unifil, but if we wanted to extend the mission we would have to review the rules. But it is an issue on which we have not found much agreement'.

Crisis to be tackled in a constructive spirit

As for the internal political front Meloni said: "I sincerely hope" that the current crisis "can also be tackled with a constructive and cohesive spirit, subtracting the discussion from a political polarisation that trivialises and does not help anyone to reason with depth. Here there is no government that shirks parliamentary confrontation,' the premier said.

Then, in her reply, Meloni on the situation in the Middle East said she was 'available for a table with the oppositions at Palazzo Chigi. I was waiting to have this confrontation in the House. As of tomorrow, I am more than willing to face this season by confronting myself with the oppositions, even in the short term'.

Crosetto: "nessuna ambiguità" su sostegno dell'Italia all'Ucraina

Ready to raise taxes on fuel speculators

"Regarding the current increase in fuel prices, the message I want to give to Italians but also to those who might think of exploiting this situation to enrich themselves on the skin of citizens and businesses is: I advise prudence. Because we will do everything we can to prevent speculation on the crisis including, if necessary, recovering the proceeds of speculation with higher taxation of the companies responsible for it," said the PM.

"We have been paying the utmost attention to the possible economic fallout" of the crisis in Iran. "On fuels, we are also considering activating the mechanism of the so-called mobile excise taxes in the event that prices rise steadily. This activation has also been requested by the opposition.

Acting on gas infrastructure costs, liquidity service needed

"At the European level," Meloni continued, "we are asking, pending the announced review, to urgently suspend the application of the ETS to the production of electricity from thermal sources, i.e. from thermoelectric power. This is a measure that is needed immediately, and at least until global prices of fossil energy sources return to pre-crisis levels in the Middle East'. But the ETS reform 'is not the only proposal we intend to bring' to the EU: 'We also want to act on the regulatory and infrastructure costs that artificially amplify the price of gas, in particular transport tariffs along import routes. Another option that we will ask to be explored is the establishment of a gas liquidity service at the disposal of the national transmission system operator, on the basis of defined competitive procedures that would make it possible to identify suppliers willing to put gas on the national market, at predetermined prices, in case of need".

On Hormuz debate in progress, if proposals confrontation in Parliament

In her reply Meloni said that 'there is an ongoing debate on the issue of Hormuz', on what 'tools' can be used 'to defend freedom of navigation, which is vital for our economies: should syntheses and proposals materialise, I think this is something we should also discuss with Parliament. It is a delicate issue, that of finding" a balance "between the obvious and vital need to defend our economies and the risk of being dragged into conflict. The debate with our European partners and beyond is developing'.

Cpr in Albania in EU law but I fear no end to contrary orders

For Meloni, 'Europe clearly says, black on white, that the Italia government has every right to operate the centres in Albania, because the mechanism we have set up is in line with international and European law, although I fear that for some this will not be enough either and the orders to revoke the transfers to Albania will not cease'.

And he attacked: these are 'decisions that find no justification in Italian law, European law, or even common sense'. He cited the 'recent case of irregular migrants convicted of drug dealing, resisting a public official, sexual violence in competition, group sexual violence, and - it is very sad to have to tell this story - sexual violence against a minor, who for the judges cannot be detained or repatriated because they have instrumentally applied for international protection'.