unity and cohesion in a difficult moment – ​​

The situation in the Middle East continues to be at the center of the Italian political agenda and government initiatives. The Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, who yesterday brought together the G7 leaders to take stock of the situation, today spoke to the secretary of the Democratic Party, Elly Schlein. The two had a conversation about the crisis in the Middle East and the latest developments. The Prime Minister hoped, from what we understand, for unity and cohesion on the part of all political forces in this difficult international situation. On the Foreign Ministry front, Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani responded to question time in the Senate, explaining that the Farnesina has recommended “the Italians in Iran – around 700 – return to Italy with commercial flights, which are gradually resuming”.

Iran itself, together with Lebanon, is the hottest front at the moment: after the missile attack launched by Tehran against Israel, tension is at its highest. Even in Lebanon it is not decreasing, with the possibility of a land invasion by the Tel Aviv army not yet averted, and on this Tajani explained that “in a particularly complex situation on the ground, we are working to encourage an increase of outgoing connections from Beirut, including charter flights and other modes, on which we are working with the Ministry of Defense Right now we are organizing a special charter flight to transfer around 180 compatriots to Italy who we hope will arrive in the evening”. Furthermore, he added, “the Farnesina crisis unit, our embassies in Beirut, Tehran and Tel Aviv and the consulate general in Jerusalem work tirelessly to offer constant security updates and every possible assistance”.

For Tajani, however, “what happened in Gaza cannot be repeated in Lebanon, it is essential to ensure the protection of civilians to prevent hostilities from having the same very high cost in terms of human lives as a year of war in the Strip”. “De-escalation – is the hope – is an essential condition to bring the entire quadrant back to dialogue and stability”. In the morning, commenting on the news according to which the leader of Hezbollah, Nasrallah, had accepted the ceasefire shortly before being killed, Tajani explained: “We were not informed. We do not negotiate with Hezbollah, I spoke with the Iran’s Foreign Minister in New York, keeping the G7 informed before and after the meeting, asking them to do their part for a ceasefire. We have never had contact with Hezbollah or Nasrallah.”