Iran, Tajani: 200 under-age students will return tomorrow. Crosetto: there are fears of an impact on prices and an increase in transport costs of up to 40%

"The ongoing crisis directly affects our national security, that of the tens of thousands of compatriots in the area, and the stability of global trade routes and energy supplies, which are crucial for our productive fabric. This is why, together with Minister Crosetto, we felt it was important to come immediately to Parliament to report on the first developments in the crisis, on the initiatives that the Italian government is implementing to help ease the tension and to assist our compatriots in the region'. This was said by the Foreign Minister at a hearing in the committees of the House and Senate on the situation in Iran and the Persian Gulf. According to Tajani "this crisis may not find a quick solution. It could last days. Maybe weeks. Much will depend on the decisions that will be taken by Tehran and the internal dynamics of the regime'.

 "Until the very end we supported dialogue and negotiation. But Iran has shown no clear signs of backing down. It has rejected any form of compromise and cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency". These were the words of Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani at a hearing in the Senate before the Foreign Affairs and Defence committees on the situation in Iran and in the Gulf, stressing that "Iran's hardening has contributed to the degeneration of the situation. As is also shown by the unacceptable and senseless attacks that Tehran has launched against the Gulf countries, which were not involved in the military operations in Iran".

 According to the Foreign Minister, 'the Italia government will continue to play its part. With lucidity. With determination. With a sense of responsibility. We believe in diplomacy. Even when it seems difficult. Even when it seems far away. Every crisis requires recourse to dialogue and negotiation. We will continue to work tirelessly for that moment to come as soon as possible

"Twenty per cent of the world's oil of 17-20 million barrels per day and more than 30 per cent of the global LNG trade passes through the Strait of Hormutz. It is one of the main energy arteries of the international economic system. Even a partial reduction or a perceived increase is enough to create an immediate effect on prices and a contraction of insurance premiums and a significant increase in transport costs of up to 30-40%'. Thus the Minister of Defence, Guido Crosetto, in the current briefing before the Foreign and Defence Committees of the House and Senate.

Minister Crosetto in Dubai met sSaturday with his counterpart Mohamed bin Mubarak bin Fadhel Al Mazrouei, Minister of Defence Affairs of the United Arab Emirates. According to a post on the Saudi Defence Ministry's Social X, "during the meeting, the two sides discussed the recent Iranian attacks against the UAE, as well as examining ways to strengthen bilateral military cooperation and further develop the defence partnership between the two countries, reflecting the depth of relations between the UAE and Italia and their shared commitment to security and stability."

"They had presented themselves as a central government, with a special relationship with the allies, instead they fall off the pear tree and fail to even guarantee the interests and security of the country." Five-star movement leader Giuseppe Conte writes this on social media. "The facts say it: a Defence Minister for days stuck in Dubai with missiles and drones on his head like an unaware tourist, the Foreign Minister with a Trump hat in his hand who did not even know that a member of the government was in a war scenario, a Prime Minister Meloni who disappeared after videos on Pucci and fake news on the referendum. In the meantime, the bill for a long chain of bad choices is borne by the Italians'.

'In Chigi,' he adds, 'they are busy with electoral law to take full powers and reform to avoid unwelcome enquiries on politicians. In the meantime, the tax burden explodes over 43% (a record in the last 20 years, after the Monti government) and this morning we wake up with price rises on oil and gas that will give another blow to citizens and businesses, thanks to the unilateral actions of the United States and Israel for which Meloni did not even give a ring".

According to the centre-right's representation, 'we would all be in favour of the regime, but we are not: we took to the streets against that vicious regime. But we cannot entrust regime change to bombs, because history never advises us to take such actions'. Conte concludes: 'We would like to know what the government thinks about this, we cannot delude ourselves that the regime is going sideways. This is a disaster, an escalation without limits with civilian victims, missiles on our compatriots'.

"We appreciate your willingness to come for this briefing ministers, but here we ask for a briefing of the president of the Council". This was said by Democratic Party secretary Elly Schlein speaking in the joint committees for the hearing of ministers Tajani and Crosetto. Meloni must report, she insisted, 'because the political implications of these dramatic developments call the whole country into question and there is a need for a clear word from Prime Minister Meloni, who should be the one to come and report to Parliament'.

"We are all convinced that the theocratic regime cannot and should not develop the nuclear weapon, we have always said this, but the way to prevent it for us is through negotiation, through diplomacy, not through bombings that risk" provoking "chain reactions". For the Dem secretary, 'Khamenei was a bloodthirsty dictator whom we will certainly not miss. At the same time, we consider unilateral military actions made in violation of international law and bypassing any kind of multilateral forum to be wrong and dangerous'.