Meloni links Iran crisis to Russia's war against Ukraine, saying chaos was inevitable

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has said she is concerned about the unfolding crisis around Iran, describing it as part of a wider crisis in international law born of Russia's war in Ukraine.

As reported by Italian news agency ANSA, she called on Tehran to stop its "totally unjustified" attacks in the Persian Gulf, stressing that the situation must not be allowed to spread further.

"I am concerned about the overall context: a crisis in international law that is inevitably the result of the war in Ukraine. When a member of the United Nations Security Council deliberately attacked its neighbour, it was inevitable that it would lead to a season of chaos."

Meloni said the Italian government aims to provide assistance to thousands of Italians who have found themselves in difficulty, particularly in the Persian Gulf region.

Italy is in contact with countries in the region and with its European partners, she added.

"The goal is obviously to prevent the crisis from spreading, but I think nothing can get better if Iran does not stop its attacks on the Gulf countries, which are totally unjustified," Meloni concluded.

On the morning of 28 February, US President Donald Trump announced that the United States had launched a large-scale operation against Iran. Israel also carried out strikes.

In response, Iran launched attacks on the territory of several Persian Gulf countries where US military bases are located.

Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth said that it was not the United States that started this war, but that it would be the one to end it.

Trump said US forces were "knocking the crap" out of Iran, but that a "big wave" was still to come.