(Adnkronos) – Iran’s capabilities are being degraded by the strikes being made against its military sites by the United States and Israel since Saturday and is unlikely to be able to last for more than a week, Italy’s foreign minister Antonio Tajani said late on Tuesday. He underlined that Rome does not want a further escalation of the widening Mideast conflict that has seen Iran launch reprisal attacks on US allies in the Gulf and block the Strait of Hormuz – the world’s busiest oil shipping channel.
“Day after day, Iran’s military capacity is diminishing. I don’t think they can hold out for more than five to seven days with the resources they have,” Tajani told Italy’s public broadcaster Rai’s ‘Five Minutes’ programme.
Commenting on US President Donald Trump’s claim that Iran’s military power has been wiped out, Tajani said: “The navy in particular has been blocked and I believe that Iranian airspace is now completely controlled by the Americans and the Israelis.”
“We do not want the crisis to escalate further so we hope that an agreement can ultimately be reached,” Tajani underlined.
“We stand with the Iranian people, who have suffered repression,” Tajani added.
Asked about the possibility of the US launching further attacks on Iran’s military infrastructure from Italian bases after Spain refused a US request, Tajani said any such decision would be taken by the cabinet.
“Regarding the use of Italian bases for the war against Iran, the government will evaluate it this. I agree with (Italy’s defence minister Guido) Crosetto,” Tajani said.
Crosetto stated on Tuesday that the cabinet would respond to any US request to launch attacks against Iran from Italian bases. “It’s not my decision,” Crosetto said.
