Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Monday that he has asked Tehran not to close the Strait of Hormuz in the wake of the US strikes on its nuclear sites during a telephone conversation with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi.
    “I expressed concern and the request not to intervene with the closure of Hormuz, which could cause enormous damage to the economy, first of all the Iranian one, but also to those of all other countries, including China,” Tajani said on the sidelines of the European foreign affairs council in Brussels.
    Tajani also had a telephone conversation with his Israeli counterpart Gideon Sa’ar on Monday.
    “It seems to me that I have got great attention from the Iranian side on Italy’s proposals and suggestions,” Tajani told reporters when asked about the calls to Araghchi and Sa’ar.
    “I have asked for guarantees for our compatriots in Iran, guarantees for the safety of our embassy, which is still open, unlike those of other (EU) member countries.

“This is another issue of great importance for us and I have recommended de-escalation.

I found attentive ears”.
    Her said he encouraged “resumption of dialogue by Tehran with the United States in a direct manner”.