Italy warns Iran war could weaken US global leadership

Italy's defence minister has warned that the war with Iran risks undermining the United States' global standing, raising concerns about the danger of nuclear escalation.

Guido Crosetto said the conflict could damage Washington's leadership role, as some NATO allies remain reluctant to support US President Donald Trump's military actions against Iran.

Italy last week refused to allow US military aircraft to land at the Sigonella air base in Sicily en route to the Middle East, reflecting broader unease among European partners.

'This war is also putting the United States at risk in its global leadership,' Crosetto told the Italian daily Corriere della Sera in an interview published on Tuesday.

A close ally of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who maintains good relations with Trump, Crosetto said he feared further escalation and warned of the risks associated with nuclear weapons.

He referred to the US atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, arguing that the world had failed to draw sufficient lessons.

'Just think: it was human beings like us who decided that even Hiroshima and Nagasaki were acceptable means of ending a conflict. Unfortunately, we still possess nuclear weapons, and those who do not have them are seeking to acquire them. We have learnt nothing.'

(reuters, bak)