Italy working to restore freedom of the Strait of Hormuz

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said that restoring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz was of vital interest for her country and the European Union, as she pledged to work with partners to achieve that aim.



Following U.S.- Israeli attacks, Iran restricted traffic through the Strait to pressure its enemies, in a move that drove up energy prices as around a fifth of the world's oil and gas pass through the narrow waterway.



As part of its proposals to end the war, Tehran wants to charge fees for ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.



"If Iran were to succeed in obtaining the authority to apply additional tariffs to transits through the Strait, this could still lead to economic consequences and shifts in trade flows," Meloni told the lower house of parliament.



"We are already working with the UK-led coalition for the Strait of Hormuz, which includes more than 30 countries, to try to build security conditions that allow for the full restoration of freedom of navigation and supply," she added.



However, Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini said on Wednesday that Italy would not send any ships to patrol the area in the absence of a U.N. mandate.

Meloni condemned all violations of the two-week ceasefire deal agreed between the U.S. and Iran earlier this week.