Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemns a missile strike on an Iranian school, calls for accountability, and outlines Italy’s non-combatant stance in the regional conflict.

ROME: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (pic) has condemned a deadly missile strike on a school in Iran.

Addressing the Senate, the far-right leader expressed her “firm condemnation of the massacre of girls at the school in Minab, southern Iran”.

She offered solidarity with the families of the “very young victims” and demanded swift accountability for the tragedy.

Iran has accused the United States and Israel of conducting the attack, which occurred on the first day of the wider Middle East conflict.

US President Donald Trump has blamed Tehran while stating an investigation is ongoing, and Israel has denied any involvement.

AFP has been unable to independently verify the circumstances or the reported death toll of at least 165 people.

Meloni reiterated that Italy, as an EU and NATO member, is “not at war and we don’t want to enter the war”.

She stated Italy could not definitively corroborate US assessments on Iran’s nuclear ambitions due to its non-involvement in direct negotiations.

Meloni argued the war’s consequences were not comparable to the risks of a nuclear-armed Iran.

“We cannot afford an ayatollah regime in possession of nuclear weapons, combined, moreover, with a missile capability that could soon be capable of directly striking Italy and Europe,” she said.

The Prime Minister said close coordination with European leaders continues, but a return to diplomacy is impossible while Iran continues retaliatory attacks.

Faced with spiking energy prices, Rome is considering cutting excise duties to stabilise fuel costs.

Meloni also warned against profiteering, stating the government is ready to recover “the proceeds of speculation through increased taxation of the companies responsible”.

 The Sun Malaysia