Italy intends to send minesweepers to the Strait of Hormuz on the condition that the war ends.
Italy intends to send minesweepers to the Strait of Hormuz on the condition that the war ends.
2026-05-13
Shafaq News – Rome
Italy announced on Wednesday that it will send two warships to the vicinity of the Gulf, making their deployment conditional on reaching a permanent truce in the region.
Defense Minister Guido Crozzetto told parliament that any potential mission in the Strait of Hormuz would only take place after prior approval from lawmakers.
Crozzetto explained that the precondition for deploying troops is not the current ceasefire, but rather “a real, reliable and stable truce, or better yet, a lasting peace.”
He noted that it would take weeks for the minesweepers to reach the region, adding that Italy is currently “pre-positioning” these ships, first in the eastern Mediterranean and then in the Red Sea.
“As a precautionary measure only… we are working to position two minesweepers in locations relatively closer to the strait,” he said.
Britain and France have led talks on forming a potential naval force in the region to support international maritime security. The two countries have also announced they are prepositioning warships in the area.
Iran effectively closed the vital Strait of Hormuz after the start of the US-Israeli war against it on February 28.
The escalation in the region has led to global economic turmoil, with rising oil and fertilizer prices and disruptions to supply chains.
In contrast, negotiations between the United States and Iran to end the war and reopen this vital corridor appear to be faltering.
shafaq.com
