From left to right: Brunella Orecchio, wife of Tajani, Marco Rubio, Secretary of State, Antonio Tajani, Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Jeanette Dousdebes, wife of Rubio, at Villa Madama in Rome, on May 17, 2025. (Credit: Gregorio Borgia/AFP.)
BEIRUT — Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani spoke by phone with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi on Friday, urging a "return to negotiation as soon as possible," according to a statement from his ministry.
"We must return to negotiation and diplomacy as soon as possible" following the Israeli strikes on military and nuclear sites in Iran, Tajani told Araghchi. "And it's the same message I've conveyed this morning to the Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar," he added.
During the conversation, Tajani also urged Iran to avoid military escalation in the conflict with Israel, warning that such a development "would be extremely dangerous for the entire region and especially for the countries directly involved."
Tajani confirmed he would remain in contact in the coming hours with the diplomatic channels of the United States, Oman, and Israel to keep communication lines open. Earlier on Friday, he also held talks with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi, as well as with Saar and Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi.
He further emphasized that, for the Italian government, "it is absolutely crucial to immediately stop military operations in Gaza, which continue to strike the Palestinian civilian population in an unacceptable manner."
Israel announced on Friday that it had carried out overnight strikes on Iranian military and nuclear targets. Tehran has vowed to retaliate. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated the operation would last "many days."