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Guard against new tragedies: Italy

DUBAI: Italy has warned against foreign military intervention in Iran soon after French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner called upon allies to consider war as a possible option to counter the Iranian nuclear programme.

Italian Foreign Minister Massimo D’Alema said on Monday that talks of a new war in the region “wouldn’t resolve the problem and would only create new tragedies and new dangers”. Mr. D’Alema added, “Before talking about war, we have to give political and diplomatic initiatives necessary time.”

Italy and Iran have good relations based on close energy ties. Italy’s gas giant Eni SpA is a major investor in the Iranian gas fields.

Meanwhile, Mr. Kouchner’s observations have imparted new meaning to the visit to Europe by the Iran’s former chief negotiator on the nuclear issue, Hessan Rouhani. Mr. Rouhani is scheduled to meet German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Wednesday. He is also expected to address European Parliament in Brussels on Thursday and meet E.U. foreign policy chief Javier Solana. Iran’s nuclear case is likely to be on the agenda during these talks.

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