Meloni slams US war on Iran as part of dangerous trend

ROME, Mar 11: Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Wednesday delivered her strongest criticism yet of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, describing it as part of a growing and dangerous trend of interventions "outside the scope of international law".

Her remarks to parliament came after repeated accusations from the opposition that her right-wing government had been too soft toward its allies. Most other European nations, with the notable exception of Spain, have withheld direct critique of the U.S. and Israeli attacks, largely calling for restraint.

Meloni - who has close ties with U.S. President Donald Trump - also said Iran must not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons, as that would end the international non-proliferation framework with "dramatic repercussions for global security", leaving Italy and Europe exposed to a potential nuclear threat from Tehran.

The U.S. and Israel traded air strikes with Iran across the Middle East as the war stretched into its 12th day, a conflict that has halted the flow of one-fifth of the world's oil and gas supplies.    �"REUTERS