(Adnkronos) – Italy is continuing its diplomatic efforts towards de-escalation amid a widening Middle East conflict sparked by the strikes on Iran begun by the United States and Israel in late February. Talks are planned with Qatar’s premier Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani and with Turkey’s foreign minister Hakan Fidan after foreign minister Antonio Tajani spoke with Saudi Arabian and Indian counterparts Faisal bin Farhan al-Saud and Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on Monday, said a foreign ministry statement.
Monday talks focused on an update on the situation in the Gulf region following fresh Iranian attacks against several countries, according to a foreign ministry statement.
Tajani underlined Italy’s commitment to de-escalation, diplomacy and a peaceful solution to the crisis, the statement said.
Amid a spike in oil and gas prices, Tajani underscored the need for freedom of navigation and maritime security, particularly in the key Strait of Hormuz global oil transport route and the Red Sea, the statement added.
Tajani reiterated Italy’s solidarity with the Saudi Minister following the “unacceptable” Iranian missile and drone attacks and thanked him for the help given to “Italian citizens in the area and for the cooperation with our embassies and consulates in facilitating their work at this time of emergency,” according to the statement.
Italy will back the draft UN Security Council resolution tabled by Bahrain on behalf of the Gulf Cooperation Council condemning the Iranian attacks on Gulf countries, Tajani said, according to the statement.
The Iran crisis gives fresh urgency for partners to press ahead with the proposed India-Middle East-Europe Economic (IMEC corridor) to diversify commercial, digital and energy connections, the statement cited Tajani as telling Jaishankar.
Since the start of the conflict, Tajani has held phone talks with US secretary of state Marco Rubio, with Germany’s foreign minister Johann Wadephul, with counterparts in the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan, Oman, Azerbaijan and Egypt, with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Raphael Grossi and with G7 partners at a meeting on Iran on 1 March, the statement noted.
