Tehran Condemns NATO Secretary-General's Comments on Support for US in Iran War

Esmaeil Baghaei. (Source: IRNA)

JAKARTA - Tehran on Thursday accused the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) of "colluding" in the US-Israeli war against Iran, after the alliance's leader mentioned his support for the US.

Responding to US President Donald Trump's criticism of allies for not supporting the war, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte told Fox News that hundreds of American planes were launched from bases in Italy, ahead of a meeting with President Trump.

"Country after country, ally after ally, has provided their bases for Epic Fury," Rutte told US TV channel Fox News, referring to the US military operation in Iran, Al Arabiya reported from AFP (25/6).

"Five hundred US aircraft took off from US bases in Italy to support Epic Fury," he continued, referring to the US name for operations against Iran.

Rutte also told Fox News that Romania "reduced commercial flights and airplanes because they had to use the airport for tanker facilities" during the Iran war.

In response, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei condemned the NATO Secretary-General's comments on "active involvement" in "illegal wars."

"This is a clear and damning admission of NATO's active involvement in a lawless war of aggression against a sovereign UN Member State," he wrote on social media X.

He accused NATO of "flagrant violations of the norms of international law and the core principles of the UN Charter."

Italy itself was quick to distance itself from Rutte's statement, which the Ministry of Defense said gave "a completely misleading message by confusing the type of flights allowed."

It is stated that Italy only allows US flights that are "technical and logistical" during the Epic Fury operation based on existing agreements with the United States.

It is known that Trump's second term was marked by tensions with NATO allies, who have expressed skepticism about the need for conflict in the Middle East.

Trump told Rutte on Wednesday he was "disappointed" by members of the alliance who did not support his war against Iran.