Rubio presses Europe on Iran while seeking to repair U.S.-Italy ties

U.S.-European relations have faced strain over divergent approaches to Iran, particularly as Washington has pursued a more confrontational posture regarding Iranian influence and freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. Italy, under Prime Minister Meloni, has maintained generally close ties with the United States but has at times signaled caution over the pace and scope of potential action against Tehran. Rubio's Rome visit follows a period of diplomatic tension that Italian officials had not fully resolved through prior channels. The stop at the Vatican adds a symbolic dimension, given the Holy See's independent diplomatic standing and its longstanding role in international mediation.