Rivals Meloni and Macron seek to mend fences
Italy's Giorgia Meloni and France's Emmanuel Macron met Tuesday in Rome, seeking to reconcile their differences as they confront common challenges, notably US tariffs and the Ukraine war.
The far-right prime minister welcomed the centrist French president to her Palazzo Chigi office, the pair kissing lightly on the cheek and both smiling.
A guard of honour played both national anthems before the two European rivals headed inside for talks and a dinner, with no plans to speak to the press.
They are not natural political allies, but as the leaders of the EU's second- and third-largest economies, they are both grappling with the fall-out from the war in Ukraine, as well as US President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs against the bloc.
Meloni on Friday acknowledged "divergences" with Macron but denied she had any "personal problems" with him, and said she was "very happy" with the visit.
An Italian government source said Rome and Paris hoped to "lay the foundations for a further strengthening of relations" between two nations "on the front line of the various fronts of international politics".
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
4 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Iran urges Europe not to back IAEA resolution on nuclear compliance
'Mark my words as Europe ponders another major strategic mistake: Iran will react strongly against any violation of its rights,' says Abbas. PHOTO: AFP Listen to article Iran warned European powers on Friday against backing a draft resolution at the International Atomic Energy Agency next week accusing Tehran of non-compliance, calling it a 'strategic mistake'. 'Instead of engaging in good faith, the E3 is opting for malign action against Iran at the IAEA Board of Governors,' Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on X, referring to Britain, France and Germany. 'Mark my words as Europe ponders another major strategic mistake: Iran will react strongly against any violation of its rights.' The warning from Iran's top diplomat comes as the three European governments prepare to join Washington in backing a censure resolution at next week's board meeting, a diplomatic source told AFP. The resolution would accuse Iran of failing to meet its nuclear obligations and carries the threat of referral to the UN Security Council if Tehran 'does not show goodwill', the source added. Araghchi said Tehran had demonstrated 'years of good cooperation with the IAEA - resulting in a resolution which shut down malign claims of a 'possible military dimension' (PMD) to Iran's peaceful nuclear programme'. 'My country is once again accused of 'non-compliance,'' he added, blaming 'shoddy and politicised reporting'. UN nuclear chief urges 'more transparency' from Iran After years of good cooperation with the IAEA—resulting in a resolution which shut down malign claims of a "possible military dimension" (PMD) to Iran's peaceful nuclear program—my country is once again accused of "non-compliance". Instead of engaging in good faith, the E3 is… — Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) June 6, 2025 The criticism follows a quarterly report from the IAEA last week which cited a 'general lack of cooperation' from Iran and raised concerns over undeclared nuclear material. Tehran rejected the report as politically motivated and based on 'forged documents' it said had been provided by its arch foe Israel. The pressure on Iran comes amid indirect talks with the United States, mediated by Oman since April 12, to forge a new nuclear agreement between the longtime foes. The two sides have been publicly at odds over uranium enrichment, the process that produces fuel for nuclear reactors or, in highly extended form, the material for a nuclear warhead. Iran insists it has the right to enrich uranium under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and the issue is 'non-negotiable'. But in a post on his Truth Social network on Monday, President Donald Trump said the United States 'WILL NOT ALLOW ANY ENRICHMENT OF URANIUM' by Iran. Tehran and Washington are seeking a new agreement to replace a 2015 deal with major powers which Trump unilaterally abandoned during his first term in 2018. The agreement quickly unravelled as Trump reimposed sweeping sanctions and Tehran began walking back its own commitments a year later. Iran currently enriches uranium to 60 percent, well above the 3.67 percent cap set by the 2015 deal but below the 90 percent threshold required for a nuclear warhead. Britain, France and Germany, which were all party to the 2015 deal, are considering whether to trigger a 'snapback' of UN sanctions under its dispute resolution mechanism – an option that expires on the deal's 10th anniversary in October.
Business Recorder
6 hours ago
- Business Recorder
Iran FM warns European powers against ‘strategic mistake' at nuclear watchdog
TEHRAN: Iran warned European powers on Friday against backing a draft resolution at the International Atomic Energy Agency next week accusing Tehran of non-compliance, calling it a 'strategic mistake'. 'Instead of engaging in good faith, the E3 is opting for malign action against Iran at the IAEA Board of Governors,' Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on X, referring to Britain, France and Germany. 'Mark my words as Europe ponders another major strategic mistake: Iran will react strongly against any violation of its rights.' The warning from Iran's top diplomat comes as the three European governments prepare to join Washington in backing a censure resolution at next week's board meeting, a diplomatic source told AFP. The resolution would accuse Iran of failing to meet its nuclear obligations and carries the threat of referral to the UN Security Council if Tehran 'does not show goodwill', the source added. Araghchi said Tehran had demonstrated 'years of good cooperation with the IAEA - resulting in a resolution which shut down malign claims of a 'possible military dimension' (PMD) to Iran's peaceful nuclear programme'. 'My country is once again accused of 'non-compliance,'' he added, blaming 'shoddy and politicised reporting'. UN nuclear chief urges 'more transparency' from Iran The criticism follows a quarterly report from the IAEA last week which cited a 'general lack of cooperation' from Iran and raised concerns over undeclared nuclear material. Tehran rejected the report as politically motivated and based on 'forged documents' it said had been provided by its arch foe Israel. The pressure on Iran comes amid indirect talks with the United States, mediated by Oman since April 12, to forge a new nuclear agreement between the longtime foes. The two sides have been publicly at odds over uranium enrichment, the process that produces fuel for nuclear reactors or, in highly extended form, the material for a nuclear warhead. Iran insists it has the right to enrich uranium under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and the issue is 'non-negotiable'. But in a post on his Truth Social network on Monday, President Donald Trump said the United States 'WILL NOT ALLOW ANY ENRICHMENT OF URANIUM' by Iran. Tehran and Washington are seeking a new agreement to replace a 2015 deal with major powers which Trump unilaterally abandoned during his first term in 2018. The agreement quickly unravelled as Trump reimposed sweeping sanctions and Tehran began walking back its own commitments a year later. Iran currently enriches uranium to 60 percent, well above the 3.67 percent cap set by the 2015 deal but below the 90 percent threshold required for a nuclear warhead. Britain, France and Germany, which were all party to the 2015 deal, are considering whether to trigger a 'snapback' of UN sanctions under its dispute resolution mechanism – an option that expires on the deal's 10th anniversary in October.
Business Recorder
6 hours ago
- Business Recorder
EU ‘deeply regrets' US sanctions on ICC judges
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM: The EU 'deeply regrets' the US sanctions imposed on four judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC), the European Commission said Friday, voicing full support for the Hague-based court. 'The ICC holds perpetrators of the world's gravest crimes to account and gives victims a voice,' Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen posted on X. 'It must be free to act without pressure.' 'We deeply regret the decision to impose sanctions on four additional individuals,' added commission spokesperson Anitta Hipper. 'We will provide the full support and contribution to ensure the protection of the court and its staff,' she told reporters. The sanctions imposed Thursday – in part over the ICC arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu – come as Washington ramps up its efforts to neuter the court. Israel urges ICC to drop arrest warrants against PM Neither United States nor Israel are party to the Rome Statute that established the court in 2002, to prosecute individuals for the world's gravest crimes when countries are unwilling or unable to do so themselves. Two of the targeted judges, Beti Hohler of Slovenia and Reine Alapini-Gansou of Benin, took part in proceedings that led to the warrant being issued for Netanyahu last November. The other two, Luz del Carmen Ibanez Carranza of Peru and Solomy Balungi Bossa of Uganda, were part of proceedings that led to a probe into allegations US forces committed war crimes in Afghanistan. European Council chief Antonio Costa earlier underscored the EU's support for the ICC, which he said 'does not stand against nations – it stands against impunity.' 'We must protect its independence and integrity. The rule of law must prevail over the rule of power,' Costa wrote on X.
