US President Donald Trump has launched a sharp public attack on Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, accusing one of his closest former European allies of lacking the “courage” to back the US-Israel war effort against Iran. In an interview with Italy’s Corriere della Sera, Trump said he was “shocked” by Meloni and claimed she was no longer the leader he once trusted. Reuters also reported Trump saying Meloni was not helping on NATO and was unwilling to support moves against what he called a nuclear-armed Iran.
The remarks mark a major rupture between Trump and Meloni, who had earlier been seen as one of Washington’s strongest partners in Europe. Trump further widened the rift by calling NATO a “paper tiger” and accusing Europe of enjoying Middle East energy routes without being willing to fight for them, especially around the Strait of Hormuz.
At the same time, another explosive front opened after the Financial Times reported that Iran had secretly acquired a Chinese-built surveillance satellite, identified as TEE-01B, in late 2024. According to the report, the satellite allegedly helped Iran’s Revolutionary Guards monitor and strike US military positions across the Middle East, including sites in Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Bahrain and Iraq. Reuters summarized the FT report and noted that the claims referenced leaked Iranian military material, coordinate lists and orbital analysis.
China has strongly denied the accusation. Beijing’s foreign ministry described the report as “fabricated” and accused unnamed forces of spreading rumors to maliciously link China to the conflict. Reuters said it could not independently verify the FT report, while the White House, CIA and Pentagon did not immediately provide public confirmation.
Why this matters
This is no longer just about Iran. It shows three deeper cracks at once: Trump’s open pressure on European allies, rising suspicion over China’s indirect role in the conflict, and growing uncertainty inside NATO at a time of war-driven energy and security tension. The Meloni clash is especially significant because she had been considered one of Trump’s most reliable partners in Europe.
Clean rewritten version for news post
US President Donald Trump has sharply turned on Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, accusing her of lacking the courage to support the US-Israel war effort against Iran.
In remarks to Italy’s Corriere della Sera, Trump said he was “shocked” by Meloni and claimed she was no longer helping Washington on NATO or on efforts to confront Iran. The comments signal a serious break between Trump and one of his closest former allies in Europe.
The political storm deepened further after the Financial Times reported that Iran had allegedly used a Chinese-built spy satellite, TEE-01B, to monitor and help target US military bases in the Middle East. The report said the satellite was linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards and was used around the time of attacks near Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Bahrain and Iraq.
China has rejected the report outright, calling it false and politically motivated. Reuters said it could not independently verify the claims, while US agencies had not issued immediate confirmation.
The back-to-back developments have intensified global tensions, with Trump attacking European hesitation and Beijing pushing back against allegations that it quietly helped Iran during the conflict