The Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini, during his visit in the US, declared: "Italy is the first, most credible, most solid interlocutor of the US in the European Union".
His words sparked controversies within the Italian Government and, more broadly, in Europe.
In the mean time, the Pentagon has announced 1,000 additional US forces will be sent to Middle East.
US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, said the country is not seeking war with Iran but will continue to act to keep shipping lanes in the Middle East open.
