Iran Condemns NATO Chief's Remarks as Proof of Complicity
Tehran has accused NATO of active complicity in the US-Israeli war against Iran, following comments by NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte confirming that member states provided bases for American military operations. The accusation came during a press conference on Thursday, as Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei responded to Rutte's interview with Fox News.
Rutte told Fox News that hundreds of US planes had taken off from bases in Italy as part of Operation Epic Fury, the US-led campaign against Iran. He also noted that Romania had curtailed commercial flights to accommodate US tanker aircraft. These statements were made in response to US President Donald Trump's criticism of allies for insufficient support for the war.
NATO Chief Details Support for US Operation
In the Fox News interview, Rutte stated: "Country after country, ally after ally after ally, have made their bases available for Epic Fury. Five hundred US planes took off from US bases in Italy to support Epic Fury." He further revealed that Romania "cut down on commercial air flights and airplanes because they had to use the airports for the tanker facilities" during the conflict.
Trump had told Rutte on Wednesday that he felt "let down" by NATO allies who did not back his war against Iran. This tension has marked Trump's second term, with many European allies expressing skepticism about the necessity of the Middle East conflict.
Iran's Foreign Ministry Responds
Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei condemned Rutte's admission as evidence of NATO's active involvement in what Tehran considers an unlawful war. "This is a clear and damning admission of NATO's active complicity in an unlawful war of aggression against a sovereign UN Member State," Baqaei wrote on X. He accused NATO of "a flagrant violation of peremptory norms of international law and the core principles of the UN Charter."
Baqaei emphasized that the remarks confirm NATO's role in the conflict, which Iran views as a violation of international law. The spokesman's comments came during a weekly press conference in Tehran, where he addressed reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Italy Distances Itself from Rutte's Statements
Italy quickly moved to distance itself from Rutte's comments. The Italian defense ministry issued a statement saying that Rutte's words gave "a completely misleading message by confusing the type of flights that were authorized." It clarified that Italy had only permitted "technical and logistical" US flights during Operation Epic Fury under existing bilateral agreements with the United States.
This clarification highlights the delicate balance NATO members face between supporting a key ally and maintaining their own diplomatic positions. The war has strained relations within the alliance, with some members questioning the strategic rationale for the conflict.
