Italy rejects NATO claim it hosted 500 US warplanes for Iran strikes, sparking political row and Iranian accusations

The Fox News bombshell

In an interview with Fox News on 25 June, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that at least 500 American planes took off from US bases in Italy to support Operation Epic Fury against Iran. He described the number as “an enormous thing.”

“If you take for example Italy, 500 American planes took off from the US bases in Italy to support Epic Fury. An enormous thing.”

The remarks instantly detonated in Rome, reopening a heated debate over the use of American bases on Italian soil and the bilateral rules that govern them.

Rome’s fierce denial

Italy’s defence ministry shot back, saying Rutte’s words were “totally misleading” and that it had authorised only ordinary logistic flights, explicitly denying Washington permission to use the Sigonella air base for bombers in March. “Italy authorises exclusively the flights foreseen by the treaties, which totally exclude kinetic activities,” the ministry said.

Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani reinforced the message on social media.

“Italy has never taken part in any military initiative and has never authorized the use of bases for actions of war against Iran, within the strictest respect of the treaties with the United States.”

Prime Minister Meloni found Rutte’s account “illogical and senseless.” She argued that if Italy had really granted full use, the repeated US criticism of Rome’s lack of support in the war would make no sense.

“Only technical and logistic activities were granted, never operational, and in any case in compliance with existing agreements.”

Tehran accuses Rome and NATO

The Iranian foreign ministry seized on Rutte’s interview, calling it a “clear and overwhelming admission of NATO’s active complicity in an illegal war of aggression.”

“Italy and Romania are explicitly named by the NATO Secretary-General as participants in the aggression against Iran. They must explain to their citizens and the world why they chose to collude in this blatant act of aggression and the commission of mass atrocities.”

Hormuz and the embassy reopening

During his phone call with Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi, Tajani demanded the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to allow passage of Italian cargo ships still blocked. “The reopening of the Italian embassy in Tehran is a strong signal of dialogue,” he added, pointing to a possible resumption of economic and cultural ties.

Separately, Oman’s foreign minister Badr Albusaidi stated that future arrangements for the strait would not impose any transit tariffs, after earlier discussions between Muscat and Tehran about service costs had raised concerns.

Domestic political storm

The opposition swiftly called for Meloni to appear before parliament, with Five Star leader Giuseppe Conte saying “the government’s fairy tales have collapsed.” The premier responded that her executive is “ready to go to parliament and say everything with great transparency.”

Rutte’s interview is widely interpreted as a bid to show President Trump that NATO remains useful, as the Alliance faces threats of US troop withdrawals. The secretary general met Trump at the White House on 25 June, brandishing charts of European defence spending increases.

“I fully agree with President Trump’s strategy on Iran.”

Rutte’s remarks also overshadowed the day’s E5 summit in Berlin, where Meloni joined leaders of France, Germany, the UK and Poland – with Rutte linked by videoconference – to discuss Ukraine and the upcoming NATO summit in Ankara.