Italy announced on Wednesday that it will send two warships to the vicinity of the Gulf, conditioning their deployment on the achievement of a lasting truce in the region.
اضافة اعلان
Defense Minister Guido Crosetto informed Parliament that any potential mission in the Strait of Hormuz would only proceed following prior approval from lawmakers.
Iran has effectively closed the vital Strait of Hormuz since the onset of the U.S.-Israeli war against it on February 28. This escalation in the region has led to global economic disruptions, including a surge in oil and fertilizer prices and the severance of supply chains. The United States has also accused Iran of planting mines within the Strait.
Crosetto clarified that the prerequisite for deploying the forces is not the current ceasefire, but rather a "genuine, credible, and stable truce, or better yet, a lasting peace."
He noted that it would take weeks for the minesweepers to reach the area, adding that Italy is currently "pre-positioning" these vessels—initially in the Eastern Mediterranean and then in the Red Sea.
"As a purely precautionary measure... we are working on positioning two minesweeper units in locations relatively closer to the Strait," he stated.
Britain and France have led talks regarding the formation of a potential naval force in the region to support international maritime security. Both countries have also announced they are pre-positioning warships in the vicinity.
Conversely, negotiations between the United States and Iran to end the war and reopen this vital corridor appear to be stalled. — AFP
