Minister Tajani met his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hon. Antonio Tajani, met today with the Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abbas Araghchi, on the sidelines of the High Level Week of the 79th United Nations General Assembly in New York.

The situation in the Middle East and Iran's role at the international level, starting with the war in Ukraine, was at the core of the agenda.

The Deputy Prime Minister stated: "I reiterated the Italian government's strong concern - also on behalf of the G7 partners - for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza as in the Lebanon. At the same time, I wanted to underline our strong commitment to prevent a new escalation in the Lebanon, particularly along the Blue Line where the UNIFIL mission - which includes around 1,000 Italian soldiers - operates." He also recalled that yesterday he chaired an informal meeting of the G7 Foreign Ministers to take stock of the main international dossiers, starting with the crisis in the Middle East.

Minister Tajani therefore hoped that "Iran would exercise its influence on the groups in the region, to urge them to self-restraint in all areas: the Lebanon, Iraq, Syria and the Red Sea."

The Minister also condemned and expressed "strong concern for the transfer of weapons from Iran to Russia" and urged the Iranian Government to "review any decision in this regard."

Closing what was the first in-person meeting between the two counterparts, after the first telephone conversation on August 25, Minister Tajani expressed his hope for "the continuation of a frank dialogue between Italy and Iran also at the level of their respective Embassies."