India, May 9 -- Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said he told US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday that Europe needs the United States, and vice versa, as America's top diplomat wrapped up two days of fence-mending talks in Italy and the Vatican following weeks of tensions over the US-Israeli war in Iran.

Tajani reaffirmed strong trans-Atlantic ties and said he hoped "tensions have been calmed" with Rubio's visit.

He said the two discussed the Iran war and spillover into Lebanon, as well as the situation in Venezuela and Cuba. The US Secretary of State also met on Friday with Premier Giorgia Meloni. "I believe things can go in the right direction," Tajani said.

"I am convinced Europe needs America - Italy needs America - ...