Meloni criticises Trump and labels Iran school attack a ‘massacre’

 

Giorgia Meloni has accused the US and Israel of acting “outside the scope of international law” with their attacks on Iran.

In her strongest criticism of the conflict yet, the Italian prime minister also demanded that Washington find out who was responsible for the missile strike on Shajareh Tayyebeh girls’ school.

Ms Meloni labelled the attack in Minab, southern Iran, on Feb 28 a “massacre”. It killed more than 160 people, most of them children.

Her comments may upset Donald Trump, who can be sensitive to criticism from world leaders he considers allies. He and Ms Meloni have long appeared to have a close friendship.

She said the Americans and Israelis had broken international law by launching the Iran war and made it plain that Italy had no intention of getting involved in the campaign.

Coffins are lined up for the funerals of children and staff killed in the air strike on their school on the first day of the Iran

As the conflict entered its 12th day, Ms Meloni said Washington had not asked to use her country’s air bases for its bombers and fighters, and if a request were made, it would need to be debated by the Italian parliament.

She told the Senate on Wednesday the war was “an intervention that Italy is not part of and does not intend to take part in”. She drew parallels with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine four years ago, which she ⁠said triggered global destabilisation.

Ms Meloni said the US-Israeli war on Iran should be seen in the context of a “structural crisis in the international system” with threats ⁠becoming “increasingly frightening and unilateral interventions outside the scope of international law ... multiplying”.

However, she also said Iran must not be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons and such a development would result in “dramatic repercussions for global security”, leaving Europe exposed to a potential nuclear threat from Tehran.

The Italian prime minister said: “We cannot afford a regime of ayatollahs in possession of nuclear weapons, combined with a missile capability that could soon be able to directly strike Italy and Europe.”

In remarks that may further antagonise Washington, Ms Meloni said the Americans must establish exactly who was responsible for the attack on the Shajareh Tayyebeh girls’ school.

Meloni criticises Trump and labels Iran school attack a ‘massacre’

Story by Nick Squires