Italy denies authorising use of airbases for US attacks on Iran

Italy denies authorising use of airbases for US attacks on Iran Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani says he held a phone call with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, in which he denied that Italy had authorised the use of its airbases for US attacks on Iran.

"Italy has never taken part in any military initiative and has never authorized the use of bases for war actions against Iran, in the strictest respect of the treaties with the United States," Tajani wrote on X.

The comments come a day after Italy rebuked remarks by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte suggesting otherwise.

Rutte's remarks sparked a political row in Italy, where Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had denied that Italian bases were used for direct military action against Iran.

Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said the airbases were used exclusively for technical and logistical activities.