Italy’s Meloni denies helping US directly in strikes against Iran

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni rejected claims that Italy provided direct military aid in the US-‘Israeli’ campaign against Iran, amid a public dispute triggered by recent statements from NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.

In a press conference, Meloni states that Italy “does not take part” in the military strikes and has no intention of entering the conflict.

She acknowledged providing only “technical and logistical” support to US forces under existing bilateral agreements governing American bases on Italian soil.

“We did not take part in the conflict with Iran. If we had, frankly, it would not explain this sense of disappointment that is repeatedly expressed by the US President, as you know, quite often,” Meloni said in a joint press conference with France’s Macron in Antibes.

“We fulfilled our commitments by allowing the use of bases for activities that were not kinetic in nature but logistical and technical. And when requests went beyond that scope, as you know, because it has been widely reported, we did not grant authorisation for their use,” she added.

The controversy intensified following Rutte’s interview with Fox News, in which he highlighted allied support for “Operation Epic Fury,” the US-‘Israeli’ military campaign that targeted Iranian nuclear sites, missile facilities, and leadership from late February to early April 2026.

Rutte noted that approximately 500 US aircraft had taken off from bases in Italy as part of broader European contributions involving thousands of sorties.

Italy’s government and defense ministry swiftly rebuked Rutte’s remarks, describing them as inaccurate and insisting that only non-kinetic, logistical, and technical activities compliant with bilateral treaties and Italy’s constitution were authorized.

"The government has only done what it stated in Parliament, as Mark Rutte himself also confirmed yesterday from the Oval Office. In his enthusiastic account, the Secretary General brought together issues that are actually different, confusing the types of authorised flights, and he later clarified and corrected himself,” Meloni continued.

“Minister Tajani (Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs) spoke today with his Iranian counterpart, and it seems that on the Iranian side as well it has been understood that there was a misunderstanding on this matter,” she added.

Officials stressed that requests for combat operations falling outside these parameters were not approved, and no formal permission for direct military action was sought or granted.

The statements have sparked political debate within Italy, where the US-‘Israeli’ operations remain unpopular. Meloni has faced criticism from opposition parties questioning the extent of base usage while defending national sovereignty and adherence to international agreements.