Italy renews call for agreement to reopen Strait of Hormuz

London (ANTARA) - Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani reaffirmed on Wednesday the call to reach an agreement to ensure the safe reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and prioritised a lasting ceasefire in Lebanon.

In a telephone conversation with Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Foreign Minister Tajani invited Iran to promptly seek constructive solutions to the ongoing crisis. He also encouraged Iran to rebuild positive relations with countries in the Gulf region.

“It is very important to promptly reach a ceasefire agreement that guarantees the safe reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and reaffirms that Iran’s nuclear programme is entirely for civilian purposes,” Tajani stated in a post on the X platform.

He added that Italy prioritises achieving a sustainable ceasefire in Lebanon and calls on all parties to commit to stable peace.

Italy, he continued, is ready to play an active role in supporting dialogue and strengthening stability in Lebanon and the broader region.

On one hand, the ceasefire announced in early April is scheduled to end on Wednesday. On the other hand, the 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel took effect last Friday (17/4).

Nevertheless, Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz stated that his side will continue to maintain control over the areas it occupies in southern Lebanon.

Since 2 March, Israeli strikes in Lebanon have reportedly caused around 2,300 deaths, more than 7,500 injuries, and over one million displacements, according to official data.

Source: Anadolu