Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said Tuesday evening that allowing Iran to collect tolls in the Strait of Hormuz would create a world where every strategic trade route becomes a weapon — a future that "we simply cannot consider." The remarks come amid a growing wave of criticism of the emerging US-Iran memorandum of understanding, as President Trump told reporters that anyone criticizing the deal "should receive an education, even if they are my friends."
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Tuesday evening joined the growing chorus of international criticism against the emerging US-Iran memorandum of understanding, warning that allowing Tehran to collect tolls in the Strait of Hormuz would set a dangerous global precedent. "If we had allowed Iran to collect a toll in the Strait of Hormuz, we would enter a world where every strategic trade route becomes a weapon. This is something we simply cannot consider," Meloni said, according to Israeli media. The statement — which comes during the G7 summit in France — represents a rare open breach with the Trump administration from a key European ally.
President Donald Trump, for his part, dismissed the criticism in a brief exchange with reporters Tuesday evening, saying: "Anyone who criticizes the deal should receive an education, even if they are my friends." The remark follows Trump's earlier defense of the deal framework, which he has described as necessary to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and avert a global economic downturn.
As The Zioneer reported earlier Tuesday evening, Gulf states have privately conveyed to the US that the deal is "very bad." The Italian prime minister's public rebuke marks an escalation: Meloni had previously been seen as one of Trump's closest allies in Europe, and Trump had accused Italy just days ago of refusing landing rights for US military aircraft during operations against Iran.
The emerging MOU — which Israel's leadership has reportedly viewed with deep reservations — remains mostly classified, with critics on both sides of the Atlantic demanding greater transparency. Israel has publicly avoided direct criticism but has reportedly blocked an Iranian demand to withdraw Israeli forces from Lebanon as part of the understandings.
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- DevelopingTrump criticizes Iran deal from G7 summit amid criticism of terms
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