Over the course of a few days, two international developments placed Italy and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at the center of attention: the publication of a target list by the Iranian press and Italy's participation in a US-organized summit on transnational left-wing terrorism.

The Iranian newspaper Hamshahri, a publication owned by the Municipality of Tehran, published what amounts to a blacklist featuring images of various Western leaders identified as alleged parties responsible for the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Among those depicted, wearing orange prison uniforms, are Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, US President Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, along with figures from the US administration and the Israeli government, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth, Centcom commander Brad Cooper, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, Israeli ministers Israel Katz and Gideon Sa'ar, and Israeli military chief of staff Eyal Zamir. The images were released on the same day that a message from Khamenei's son, Mojtaba, who has become the new Supreme Leader, was made public, announcing retaliation against those responsible for his father's death and stating that revenge must be carried out.

The publication drew bipartisan reactions in Italy. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani expressed maximum solidarity with Meloni, stating she will not be intimidated. Senate President Ignazio La Russa spoke of an episode that strikes at democratic values and institutions, condemning all forms of intimidation. Chamber President Lorenzo Fontana expressed full closeness. Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini declared total solidarity, reiterating that Italy will not be intimidated.

At the same time, Italy confirmed its participation in a summit convened in Washington by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the topic of the resurgence of transnational left-wing terrorism. The meeting, scheduled for July 16, involved invitations to over 60 foreign ministers from European, Latin American, and Asian nations, according to the Washington Post. The Italian government, at the urging of the Prime Minister, decided to send an undersecretary, ensuring an institutional presence without committing ministers or top-level officials.

The American initiative generated concerns among various international partners. According to the Washington Post, some governments expressed dissatisfaction over the short notice and the lack of sufficiently clear objectives, and European officials noted that left-wing terrorism is not considered a priority in their respective security systems. Several observers interpret the summit as a step in the Trump administration's hardline approach toward the Antifa movement, which the US president has previously called a domestic terrorist organization. According to US sources reported in the press, the administration is considering tools to frame the movement as an international threat, expanding investigative capabilities.

In Italy, the decision sparked political debate. The opposition called on the government not to join the initiative, judging it a political exploitation. Più Europa secretary Riccardo Magi called the initiative propaganda and asked the government to reconsider. Nicola Fratoianni of Avs filed a parliamentary question requesting clarification on the motivations for participation and the objectives pursued. Pd deputy Enzo Amendola spoke of an indecorous mission. M5s senator Alessandra Maiorino called it a disturbing decision. Avs's Angelo Bonelli spoke of subordination to the Trump administration's logic. The government chose an intermediate solution, confirming participation with a reduced-profile delegation.

Finally, former Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni raised the issue of a transversal anti-Kiev axis, urging the Prime Minister and Pd secretary Elly Schlein to resist pressure, stating that what is at stake is not only the cohesion of alliances but also Italy's European positioning.