Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Thursday (9 April) that restoring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz is a vital interest for both Italy and the European Union, pledging coordination with international partners to ensure safe passage.
Following U.S.-Israeli attacks, Iran restricted shipping in the strait, through which roughly a fifth of the world’s oil and gas flows, driving up global energy prices.
Tehran has proposed charging fees for ships passing through the strait, a move Meloni warned could have wide-ranging economic and trade consequences.
"We are already working with the UK-led coalition for the Strait of Hormuz, which includes over 30 countries, to build security conditions allowing the full restoration of freedom of navigation and supply," Meloni said in parliament.
However, Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini clarified that Italy would not send ships to patrol the area without a U.N. mandate.
Meloni condemned violations of the two-week U.S.-Iran ceasefire and urged Israel to halt military operations in Lebanon. She also reiterated her opposition to recent U.S. strikes in Iran, amid criticism from opposition parties over her perceived closeness to President Donald Trump.
Addressing parliament for the first time since a recent referendum defeat on justice reforms, Meloni rejected calls for a cabinet reshuffle and vowed to serve out her full term, scheduled to run until the second half of 2027.
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Maritime trackers received new reports of an attack on a ship in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), adding to concerns about energy supplies after Saudi Arabia shut down a vital oil pipeline on Saturday.
U.S. Central Command said 101 commercial vessels have been redirected in the Strait of Hormuz, while oil prices rose more than three per cent amid fresh regional attacks and supply concerns.
A Russian strike on a farm warehouse in Pryluky, north-central Ukraine, has killed at least three people, local police said. Meanwhile, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said an attack on a train near the Polish border was an attempt to intimidate Ukraine's allies.
U.S. President Donald Trump has again said Iran is keen to reach a deal quickly, but a senior Iranian security official rejected the claim, saying Tehran will not negotiate until its conditions are met.
A Danish military helicopter came within “metres” of being struck by flares fired by a Russian warship, Denmark's Defence Minister Jeppe Bruus said on Tuesday. Russia accused Denmark of carrying out “dangerous manoeuvres” near its ship, and said it was investigating the incident.
The opening day of the 24th Arab Media Summit in Dubai highlighted how geopolitical, economic and technological upheaval is reshaping not only the region, but the media industry itself.
Georgia's move to comply with U.S. sanctions on Iranian airlines has sparked a diplomatic exchange with Tehran, as Tbilisi faces growing scrutiny in Washington over its ties with Iran, Russia and China.
Pakistan’s courts have temporarily blocked the expulsion of Afghan medical students, allowing dozens to continue their studies as Islamabad presses ahead with its wider Afghan repatriation drive amid tensions with Kabul.
Syria says it has taken major steps to resolve long-running concerns over its nuclear programme, marking what officials describe as the beginning of a new phase of cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Georgia has been formally integrated into the European Union's Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), bringing Anaklia Deep-Sea Port, Georgian Railway's main line and the East-West Highway into the network's expanded framework.
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