Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni sharply criticized the ongoing U.S.-Israeli war against Iran during a speech to the Senate, describing it as part of a 'dangerous trend' of interventions outside the scope of international law. She placed the conflict within a broader context of global instability, drawing parallels to Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

The war began on February 28, 2026, when U.S. and Israeli forces launched surprise airstrikes targeting Iranian military sites, nuclear facilities, and leadership, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Iran retaliated with missile and drone attacks on U.S. bases, Israel, and Gulf states, escalating into widespread regional strikes. As of March 17, the conflict entered its third week, with Iran closing the Strait of Hormuz, disrupting one-fifth of global oil and gas supplies and driving prices above $114 per barrel.

Meloni condemned a U.S.-Israeli strike on a girls' school in Minab, southern Iran, that killed around 180 people, mostly children, calling it a 'massacre.' Despite her rebuke, she stressed that Iran must not develop nuclear weapons, warning it would shatter the non-proliferation regime and expose Europe to threats.

Italy has reaffirmed it will not participate in the war and follows existing agreements on U.S. bases, which require parliamentary approval for offensive actions. Rome is sending air-defense systems to Gulf allies hit by Iranian strikes to protect tens of thousands of Italian citizens and 2,000 troops stationed there. Meloni faces domestic pressure from opposition parties accusing her of being too lenient toward allies U.S. President Donald Trump and Israel.

Her comments align Italy with a European chorus urging restraint, though most nations like the UK, France, and Germany have avoided direct criticism. Spain's Pedro Sánchez and France's Emmanuel Macron have voiced similar concerns over legality. Casualties exceed 4,000 killed, with thousands more injured across multiple countries.