Middle East

Multilateral expedition to Hormuz, time knot for Italian minesweepers

The naval units, which would travel escorted by multi-role combat units with air defence systems and flanked by a logistics ship, have a sea journey time of approximately twenty days from Italian ports to Hormuz

by Rome Editorial Staff

9 May 2026

Una motovedetta solca le acque mentre alcune navi mercantili sono alla fonda nello Stretto di Hormuz, al largo di Bandar Abbas, in Iran APN

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged European allies to go beyond rhetoric and take concrete measures against Iran. Speaking on Friday, 8 May after meetings in Rome with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, Rubio warned that Tehran is attempting to assert its control over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, calling the move "unacceptable" and a threat to global security. The secretary of state complained about the lack of help from allies, including the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

The pressing of the allies

In the meantime, according to a report by La Repubblica, the joint chiefs of staff of France and the United Kingdom, who within the framework of the Coalition of the Willing have a directing role in the organisation of a multilateral naval expedition to reopen the Strait, have urged their colleagues from other European countries, including Italia, to begin moving naval units towards the arm of the sea between Iran and Oman. Should a truce between the US and Iran be reached and confirmed - is the reasoning - it would be important to reach the area quickly.

The days of the minesweepers

The minesweepers, which would travel escorted by multi-role combat units with air defence systems and flanked by a logistics ship, have a sea journey time of about twenty days from Italian ports to Hormuz. The minesweepers in recent days have been limited to training activities, and for now it is only a hypothesis to deploy them in the meantime 'in the Red Sea where there is the Aspides mission', exposed by Tajani, specifying that 'but now it is still early days'.

The hypothetical deployment of the minesweepers will take place - as Defence Minister Guido Crosetto made clear - only after the cessation of hostilities and subject to parliamentary authorisation.

Risk Truce

In reality, the negotiations for the closure of the conflict between the parties continue to navigate uncertain waters, with the risk that a very precarious truce will break down under President Donald Trump's renewed threat to initiate military action 'with much more force' if his peace proposal is not agreed upon

Tajani and Crosetto heard by committees

Meanwhile, Italia seems to be speeding up. On Wednesday 13 May, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and Defence Minister Guido Crosetto will be heard by the joint Foreign and Defence Committees of the House and Senate on international initiatives to restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. The focus will be on Italia's willingness, repeatedly confirmed by the Meloni government, to participate with two mine-hunting ships in an international mission after a stable ceasefire and with the green light from Parliament.

The resolution

To give the go-ahead to the operation, therefore, the two ministers' briefing is not enough. What is needed is a resolution to be voted on and approved in the chamber, and this step is not yet planned.

The charter of the UN resolution

Meloni told Rubio that a UN resolution would be ideal for Italia, but after the meeting the belief that China and Russia would veto it in the Security Council has strengthened. For now the most concrete option remains that of the Volunteers initiated by the Elysée meeting.

Crosetto's trip to the US

The operational details of the operation in Hormuz could also be discussed in detail during the trip that Crosetto is preparing to the US. At the Pentagon, the Defence chief should meet his counterpart Pete Hegseth. The Lebanon dossier is also on the table: the Americans are aware, it is stressed in Rome, of Italia's roots in the area, which aims to play a leading role beyond the expiry of the Unifil mission, still affected by a missile that fell on the Shama base, home to the Italian contingent.