«An unfortunate event has happened: an Iranian parliamentarian tore the image of the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella, to whom our solidarity goes, and this is why I decided to summon the Iranian ambassador». This was announced by the Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani. “I summoned the Iranian ambassador because tearing up the photograph of the President of the Republic by a deputy is a hostile act towards us.”
The president of the Chamber of Deputies also condemned the gesture, Lorenzo Fontana: «I express my strongest condemnation for the serious gesture committed by the Iranian deputy Mojtaba Zarei against the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, to whom I address all my solidarity and closeness. There is strong disdain for the regime’s inadmissible attack on Western democracies and their leaders and exponents.”
The position taken by is also very harsh Italia Viva. «The gesture of an Iranian deputy who, in a session of the Tehran parliament, tore up the image of President Mattarella, together with those of other European leaders, is an intolerable attack on Italy and its sovereignty. That a theocratic regime, responsible for violent repression and financier of international terrorism, allows itself to offend our head of state in this way is paradoxical. Maximum solidarity with President Mattarella. It is good that Minister Tajani, who summoned the Iranian ambassador, makes himself heard and asks for explanations.” The national vice presidents of Italia Viva, the senator, declare this Enrico Borghi and the deputy David Pharaoh.
The head of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic Party also intervened on the matter, Peppe Provenzano: «An unacceptable gesture. In the image of Sergio Mattarella the entire national community is reflected and recognized, he represents our democratic Republic, founded on the Constitution and respect for fundamental human rights. We stand in solidarity with the President of the Republic and other European leaders. And we renew our entire condemnation of the Iranian regime which commits horrendous crimes against its people every day.”