- Tehran Condemns Alliance Chief’s Remarks on Support for US Operations
TEHRAN: Iran on Thursday accused NATO of being complicit in the US-Israeli military campaign against the Islamic Republic after NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte acknowledged allied support for American operations during the conflict.
Iranian officials described the remarks as evidence of direct involvement by the alliance in what Tehran called an unlawful war against a sovereign nation.
NATO Chief Highlights Allied Assistance to US Forces
Speaking to Fox News, Rutte said several NATO allies had provided logistical support for the US military operation, codenamed “Epic Fury,” including access to military bases and airport facilities.
According to Rutte, approximately 500 American aircraft departed from US bases in Italy in support of the operation.
“Country after country, ally after ally after ally, have made their bases available for Epic Fury,” Rutte said.
He also noted that Romania had reduced commercial air traffic to facilitate the use of airport infrastructure for military tanker operations during the campaign.
Trump Expresses Disappointment Over Limited Allied Support
The NATO chief’s comments came after US President Donald Trump reportedly voiced frustration over what he considered insufficient backing from some alliance members during the conflict with Iran.
Trump told Rutte on Wednesday that he was disappointed with allies that had not openly supported Washington’s military actions in the Middle East.
The issue has added to existing tensions between the US administration and several NATO partners, many of whom have questioned the necessity and implications of the war.
Iran Denounces ‘Violation of International Law’
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Esmaeil Baqaei, strongly condemned Rutte’s statements, describing them as an admission of NATO’s active participation in what Tehran considers an illegal act of aggression.
In a post on social media platform X, Baqaei said:
“This is a clear and damning admission of NATO’s active complicity in an unlawful war of aggression against a sovereign UN member state.”
He further accused the alliance of violating fundamental principles of international law and the United Nations Charter.
“Such actions represent a flagrant violation of peremptory norms of international law and the core principles enshrined in the UN Charter,” Baqaei added.
Italy Distances Itself from NATO Remarks
Italy swiftly rejected suggestions that it had provided direct operational support for military strikes against Iran, saying Rutte’s comments created a misleading impression regarding the role of Italian facilities.
The Italian Defense Ministry clarified that only technical and logistical flights had been authorized under existing bilateral agreements with the United States.
Officials stressed that no approval had been granted for offensive military operations originating from Italian territory during the mission.
The diplomatic exchange underscores growing tensions surrounding international involvement in the conflict and raises fresh questions about the extent of NATO allies’ participation in US military activities in the Middle East.
