Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has condemned a deadly missile strike on a girls’ school in southern Iran, calling it a “massacre” and demanding accountability, while also warning that Tehran’s nuclear ambitions pose a serious threat to Europe.
Speaking in the Italian Senate, Meloni expressed solidarity with the families of the victims and stressed that Italy is not participating in the conflict, even as tensions escalate across the region. She cautioned that ignoring the risk of Iran obtaining nuclear weapons could have severe consequences for European security.
The PM's point of view is partly encouraging and partly inflammatory. By condemning the deadly attack on the girls' school in question, calling it a massacre, and subsequently demanding accountability, the PM is on the right side of history. And, while warning that Tehran's nuclear ambitions pose a serious threat to European security, the PM is on the wrong side of history, as the claim in question does not hold water. There is a lack of historical and material evidence in this regard. Iran has historically faced aggression and fought against global hegemony directed against the state and its civil-military leadership following its refusal to be cowed down. The Islamic Republic of Iran bore the brunt of economic aggression—i.e., economic sanctions on the grounds of manufactured threats stemming from nuclear capability, which were hatched in a global hegemonic hatchery just to target Iran and its sovereignty. Meloni's assertion of a threat to European security is nothing but political hallucination. It calls for political dissection to remove the political tumour from the minds of Meloni and the like-minded, and subsequently debunk the alleged looming threats to European security with political and historical evidence—i.e., calling a spade a spade.
On the 22nd of September 1980, Iraq, led by Saddam Hussein, attacked Iran, causing over one million human casualties, infrastructural destruction, displacement, environmental degradation, demographic changes, and economic baggage on both sides. Israel saw Iraq as a threat, hence it supported Iran. The war of attrition caused heavy social, political, and economic losses and shifted the balance of power. It also reportedly fomented sectarianism in the region. The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), also known as the Iran nuclear deal, was signed by Iran in 2015. Reportedly, Iran agreed to curtail its nuclear programme in exchange for the lifting of sanctions. Iran's willingness to be open to International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspections is self-explanatory. Iranian authorities continuously claimed its nuclear programme was for peaceful purposes. Despite this, the USA pulled out of the pact. Targeting Iran on one pretext or another is nothing but part of the geopolitical game at play, undermining its political independence and economic prospects.
International law does not allow interference in the internal affairs of any country. Nor can its sovereignty be violated. Bending political leaders to one's will at gunpoint or culling the population as a means of collective punishment is the product of colonial thinking. It has to be discarded. Draconian norms have to be dropped in order to make this planet, especially the Middle East, a peaceful place to live in.
In November 2024, the ICC issued arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, as well as Al-Qassam Brigades commander Mohammed Diab Ibrahim Al-Masri, on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. In defiance and denial, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán invited Netanyahu to visit Hungary. Earlier, he was on record as stating in November 2024 that the ICC warrant would have "no effect" in his country. The alleged war criminal visited Hungary in April 2025, with Orbán defying international calls for his arrest. In response to the visit in question, Erika Guevara-Rosas, the head of Global Research, Advocacy and Policy of Amnesty International, minced no words and said: “Prime Minister Netanyahu is an alleged war criminal, who is accused of using starvation as a method of warfare, intentionally attacking civilians and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts. As a member state of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Hungary must arrest him if he travels to the country and hand him over to the Court. Any trip he takes to an ICC member state that does not end in his arrest would embolden Israel to commit further crimes against Palestinians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.” Netanyahu’s reported visit should be seen as a cynical effort to undermine the ICC and its work, and is an insult to the victims of these crimes who are looking to the Court for justice. As if this weren't enough, various European countries had stated that they would not arrest Netanyahu if he visited their country—not to mention the sanctions slapped by the USA on the ICC judge who had dared to issue the arrest warrants.
European elites’ mindset that views the defender as a security threat and the aggressor as a friend is the elephant in the room
Under such circumstances, Netanyahu is emboldened to act as per his hawkishness, leading to regional instability and consequent economic shocks and subsequent individual, institutional, and national budgetary burdens caused by supply chain disruption. On the 13th of June 2025, Israel, empowered by technology, launched "Operation Rising Lion" and targeted Iran's nuclear programme sites, strategic infrastructure, and killed military leadership and scientists with precision. Tehran retaliated in self-defence. Israel continues to act with immunity. While brazenly breaching international law, on the 28th of February 2026, the USA and Israel jointly imposed war on Iran. The "Operation Epic Fury" launched in conjunction with the Zionist state of Israel battered Tehran with modern warfare. The illegal war against Iran caused large-scale civilian casualties, internally displaced around 3.2 million people—not to mention the assassination of the supreme leader Ali Khamenei and military leadership.
Iran retaliated with asymmetrical resolution and not only targeted Israel with drones and missiles but also hit American bases and civilian infrastructure in the Gulf states associated with America in terms of business shares, ultimately triggering tension in the region. The drones, as a retaliatory measure, proved pivotal for Iran as they frustrated both the superpower and its protégé, Israel, when it came to intercepting cheaper drones with expensive missile interceptors, causing heavy war baggage. Besides, Tehran closed the Strait of Hormuz, creating a global economic shock and subsequent rising prices of energy, ultimately triggering global inflation.
Iran's masterstroke in terms of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz to enemy countries prompted the White House to reach out to NATO allies and regional partners to reopen the shipping stretch in question with military might. However, the allies shied away, asking the aggressors to fend for themselves. Frustrated, Washington DC and its proxy in the Middle East—Israel—continued striking Iranian strategic and energy infrastructure. Faced with asymmetrical power, the Iranian leadership kept striking Tel Aviv and the Gulf states while ensuring the shutdown of the shipping stretch—the Strait of Hormuz. The conflagration of the conflict to regional countries, the strangulation of shipping lines, and Donald Trump's belligerence and self-imposed deadlines, including this one, "A whole civilisation will die tonight, never to be brought back again," sent chills down the spine of conscientious countries, prompting Pakistan to play its diplomatic dexterity to "Save the Civilisation".
Pakistan's civil-military leadership wore the crown of brokering a ceasefire between Iran and the USA. "Thank you, Pakistan" poured in from all over the globe. While the peace-loving states took a sigh of relief over the unprecedented midnight diplomatic development at a critical juncture, only the enemies of peace and war-wagers like India had cramps in their abdomens over Islamabad's monumental diplomatic achievement. Unsurprisingly, the Benjamin Netanyahu-led government of Israel, defying a two-week war pause to formalise the terms and conditions, has unleashed a fresh wave of violence against Lebanon, killing more than two hundred innocent people and injuring thousands. Reportedly, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has assailed Israeli strikes launched on Lebanon, demanding that Beirut be included as part of the US-Iran ceasefire. “Just today, [Israeli PM] Netanyahu launched his harshest attack against Lebanon since the offensive began. His contempt for life and international law is intolerable,” Sanchez has said on X. “It’s time to speak clearly: Lebanon must be included in the ceasefire, the international community must condemn this new violation of international law, the European Union must suspend its Association Agreement with Israel, and there must be no impunity for these criminal acts,” he adds. Instances such as these clearly suggest 'who is who and what is what' in terms of who are the aggressors and the aggressed.
Has Iran ever attacked any European state? Has Tehran threatened to impose war on any European country? On the contrary, it is the state of Israel that has consistently imposed war on Damascus, Baghdad, and Tehran. Israel poses a serious threat to the Middle East and, by extension, to Europe. European countries are historically dependent on the Gulf and Russia for gas and fuel supply. War in the Middle East has put an extra burden on the pockets of ordinary Europeans due to the rising cost of living caused by fuel price hikes. Besides, you—Giorgia Meloni—cannot and should not shut your eyes to the Gaza Genocide. Israel's war machines kept grazing the Gazans thanks to the complicity of the West. A lie—"Weapons of Mass Destruction"—was manufactured just to dodge the world in order to destroy Iraq. Coming up with the notion that Iran's nuclear ambitions pose a serious threat to Europe is a song from the same playbook. What Meloni has failed to understand so far is that the recent aggression against Iran will convince weaker nations to pursue modern weapons as a deterrence against the threats of their civilisations being destroyed by powerful players and tyrants.
The monumental failure of the UN in terms of finding solutions to conflicts through peaceful means has engendered risks of invasion and aggression. As a result, debate is gaining momentum that vulnerable countries should pursue gaining nuclear muscle in order to be saved from predators. It is very difficult to disagree with proponents touting arms as a necessity to ward off both hegemony and looming existential crises. Today, countries that have cultivated nuclear capabilities walk with their heads high in their respective regions as none dare raise an evil eye at them. Imagine the scale of war baggage for the Middle Eastern countries. While talking to reporters, UN Assistant Secretary-General Abdallah Al Dardari reportedly told reporters in Amman that "The war sparked by the joint US-Israeli war on Iran and which has spread across the Middle East has cost Arab countries $186 billion." "We estimate that the loss to the Arab region's GDP as a result of one month of fighting will be around six per cent... Six per cent of GDP means the region has lost around $186 billion from its economy in a single month," he said. The Iran war, as per media reports, cuts Saudi oil output capacity by 600,000 barrels per day. This cost of conflict is just the tip of the iceberg. According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the military escalation in the Middle East, now into its fifth week, reverses more than a year of economic growth in the Arab States region. And hard-won development gains could be wiped out with up to 4 million people pushed into poverty. Reportedly, Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), rang economic alarm bells after having declared that "It expects to have to provide up to $50 billion in immediate financial assistance to countries affected by the Middle East war, with the crisis likely to have lasting economic effects." "Given the spillovers of the Middle East war, we expect near-term demand for IMF balance-of-payments support to rise to somewhere between $20bn and $50bn, with the lower bound prevailing if the ceasefire holds." The IMF chief has also highlighted the ripple effects of the crisis, including food insecurity for at least 45 million people.
Donald Trump's appeal to NATO allies to reopen the shipping stretch called the Strait of Hormuz with military might, citing supply chain disruption, contrasts with the siege of humanitarian aid by the Israeli military. The global powerful leaders were bystanders. Once the light and life were reduced to rubble in Gaza, it shook the conscience of both the Western public and ruling elites. Even today, many are in denial and defiance. Iran's backing for the three Hs—Hezbollah, Hamas, and Houthis in Yemen—is a reality. But it's a political problem that can be tackled through a table-talk diplomacy. The very entities are fighting for the liberation of their people and land. However, the Western countries are arming Israel, and the USA, wielding veto power, has consistently bailed out Israel. Who will deny it? The Western countries supplied arms and ammunition to the butcher—the Benjamin Netanyahu-led government. If Iran was being bombed for its backing to the three Hs...? Should the backers—putting their weight behind Tel Aviv—be bombed? The global hegemonic states continue to designate political organisations as terror groups or heroes as per their ugly schemes to be orchestrated in the name of democracy across countries and continents. Earlier, internal uprising was germinated with alleged external incitement in Iran in terms of material and moral support. It was quelled by Iranian leadership under Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has written an open letter addressed to people in the US. The President dismissed claims that Iran poses a security threat, calling them inconsistent with “historical reality.”
In a letter addressed to the American public and published by state media outlet Press TV, he described Iran as one of the world’s oldest continuous civilisations. He said Iran has never pursued aggression, expansion, colonialism, or domination in its modern history, and has not initiated any wars. However, he stressed that the country has consistently defended itself against those who have attacked it.
The mindset that views the aggressed as a security threat and the aggressor as a friend due to geopolitical games played by powerful players is the elephant in the room. Following a high-powered huddle with delegations from warring states — Tehran and the USA — in Islamabad aimed at achieving permanent peace, Donald Trump has reiterated that Iran should not have nuclear weapons. However, the question remains: Has Israel's nuclear arsenal been dismantled? Western hypocrisy is the biggest issue here, as the West has historically supported dictators and fuelled undemocratic movements under colonial considerations. Israel's recent passage of a draconian law targeting Palestinian prisoners, allowing them to be tried in kangaroo courts, should be a concern for European elites who value humanity and democracy.
Israel poses an existential threat to the Middle East due to its modus operandi of killing sprees and flattening Lebanon and Gaza. Israel needs to be isolated. Iran is open to International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspections, whereas Israel has refused the same. Israel has nuclear weapons, but Iran doesn't have them.
The Guardian Op-ed quoted the Green Party leader Zack Polanski to have called on the government to tear up the UK-Israel trade agreement after Israeli strikes on Lebanon.
“It is outrageous that Israel is still enjoying diplomatic and trade privileges from the international community. As a Green party, we are calling on this government to make much more robust sanctions, to withdraw the UK-Israel trade agreement and to end the genocide.” Polanski said the prime minister’s insistence that the UK was “not involved” in the conflict with Iran was not “entirely truthful”, because its bases had been used to aid US bombers attacking Iran. “What we need to do is disentangle the UK military and the US military, ban the US from using our airspaces,” he said.
After massive strikes on Lebanon in violation of the ceasefire, the Iranian leadership reportedly warned of consequences in terms of resuming retaliation and conveyed the same to the quarters concerned.
Dawn in its editorial titled "Attacking Lebanon" rightly wrote, convincingly commented, and concluded as well that: "Israel is understandably furious that its joint effort with the US to destroy Iran has ended in failure; Israeli media is full of criticism of the regime for failing to achieve its goals in this brutal war. Now it seems that Tel Aviv has decided to direct its rage at the Lebanese people in the name of going after Iran’s ally Hezbollah. There has been deliberate targeting of civilians — a war crime — in the country under the so-called Dahieh Doctrine. But Israel is no stranger to carrying out such attacks, having engaged in them across the Middle East for decades."
Trump must decide whether he wants to indeed put 'America first', and to do Israel's bidding, even if the region is set alight in the process. The US has considerable leverage over its proxy Israel; the time to use it is now.
Tel Aviv is using every trick in the book to ensure the peace process fails and hostilities resume.
According to EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas, the ceasefire should definitely also cover Lebanon because the human suffering we see there is totally unnecessary.
United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Francesca Albanese, tweeted on X that: "As the pause in Israel-US military aggression on Iran takes effect, Israel escalates its war crimes in Lebanon with the same vindictiveness used for decades against Palestinians. Israeli crimes remain a threat to peace in the region and beyond. They must be stopped and punished."
This was followed by another tweet: "The world finally sees the true nature of an Apartheid state that has terrorised, displaced. executed, jailed and tortured millions of Palestinians for decades. Israel won’t stop until States and people force it to stop. #StopArmingIsrael #NoTradeWithIsrael"
Antonio Guterres wrote in a post on X: " I unequivocally condemn the massive strikes by Israel across Lebanon on 8 April that resulted in hundreds of civilians being killed & injured, including children. With the announcement of the ceasefire between Iran & the USA, the ongoing military activity in Lebanon poses a grave risk to the ceasefire & the efforts toward a lasting & comprehensive peace in the region."
Fuel protests have erupted in Ireland following economic pain caused by the conflict in question, causing chaos in the country and consequently prompting the Defence Forces to be on standby. Norway also saw public fury over fuel regarding the rising cost of living.
The Independent writes: "The protests stem from soaring petrol and diesel prices, which have reached approximately 193.9 cents and 218.9 cents respectively at filling stations. Demonstrators, primarily professional drivers, farmers, and hauliers, attribute the sharp price hikes to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and its impact on supplies from the Strait of Hormuz. They argue that without immediate government intervention, their businesses and livelihoods are at severe risk."
People across countries and continents are bearing the brunt of war's economic baggage and subsequently crying out under the heavy weight of inflation. Who has brought this global economic disaster and deprivation? The answer is the illegal war imposed on Iran by Israel and the USA.
The mindset that views the aggressed as a security threat and the aggressor as a friend due to geopolitical games played by powerful players is the elephant in the room.
On the heels of a high-powered huddle in Pakistan, in response to reporters about the ceasefire in question, Donald Trump said, " no nuclear weapons" will be an ideal deal.
Following a high-powered huddle in Islamabad aimed at achieving permanent peace, Donald Trump has reiterated that Iran should not have nuclear weapons. However, the question remains: Has Israel's nuclear arsenal been dismantled? Western hypocrisy is the biggest issue here, as the West has historically supported dictators and fuelled undemocratic movements under colonial considerations. Israel's recent passage of a draconian law targeting Palestinian prisoners, allowing them to be tried in kangaroo courts, should be a concern for European elites who value humanity and democracy.
Western hypocrisy is indeed a concern for European security, as it undermines trust and credibility in international relations. The West's inconsistent approach to conflicts, such as its response to Russia's actions in Ukraine versus its stance on Israel-Palestine or Iran, does demonstrate deep-seated double standards.
Israel poses an existential threat to the Middle East due to its modus operandi of killing sprees and flattening Lebanon and Gaza. Israel needs to be isolated. Iran is open to International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspections, whereas Israel has refused the same. Israel has nuclear weapons, but Iran doesn't have them. Tehran is accused of building nuclear arms.
Isolating Israel could be a strategic move for European economic security and political credibility, especially given the ongoing Gaza Genocide, aggression against Iran and Lebanon, etc., and the humanitarian crisis.
Iran poses no threat to Europe. Tehran is seen as a threat to the strategic asset in the Middle East called Israel. Compromising core values of international law due to strategic interests is the root cause of fabricating threats, as the one pinpointed by Giorgia Meloni.
Today, the Middle East has become the epicentre of death and destruction because global movers and shakers have turned a blind eye to war crimes and crimes committed against humanity. Let war criminals and those aiding and abetting be punished de jure.
From the Gaza Genocide to the war on Iran, and the perpetuation of atrocities inflicted upon innocent people in Lebanon, it should leave no one in doubt that it is the Zionist, colonialist, and expansionist state of Israel that is a serious threat not only to the Middle East but also to the global economy, food security, and ecological balance. Given Donald Trump's volatile nature, the world is waiting with bated breath to see if a truce is formally signed and subsequently if the conflict is brought to an end. Islamabad earned international accolades for bringing the warring states, the USA and Iran, to the diplomatic table. The high-stakes talks have begun in Pakistan. One hopes a sustainable ceasefire is achieved in the region. It's time to rein in Israel.
Underestimating Iran’s history of resilience will prove to be a political mistake. As the late Iranian essayist Bastani Parizi once wrote: “Sometimes the fate of this kingdom hangs by a hair, but that hair does not break.”
Wake up and smell the coffee, Giorgia Meloni.