Italy says Iranian people must not pay for their government’s actions

The Iranian people must not be made to pay for the actions of their government, Italy said on Tuesday, after Donald Trump warned that “a whole civilization will die tonight.”

A statement from Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s office condemned Iran’s attacks on its neighbours but stressed that the actions of a “regime” must be clearly separated from the fate of ordinary citizens.

“The Iranian civilian population cannot and must not be made to pay the price for the guilt of its government,” the statement said.