NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte emphasized on Monday that Iran must not be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon, as Israel and Iran exchanged fresh military strikes.
“When it comes to NATO’s stance on Iran’s nuclear programme, allies have long agreed that Iran must not develop a nuclear weapon,” Rutte said ahead of a NATO summit taking place in The Hague.
He dismissed concerns that the escalating conflict in the Middle East would overshadow the summit, which will bring together leaders from NATO’s 32 member states on Tuesday.
Rutte also pointed to Iran’s role in the war in Ukraine, saying the country was “heavily involved” in supporting Russia.
“Iranian drones are killing innocent Ukrainians every day in cities, in communities without any respect for life,” he said.
Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump claimed over the weekend that U.S. warplanes had used “bunker buster” bombs to “obliterate” Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. However, other officials cautioned that it was too early to determine the actual impact of the strikes on Iran’s nuclear programme, which Israel and several Western nations view as a major threat.
Iran condemned the U.S. bombing, warning it would “pave the way for the extension of war in the region” and threatening “serious, unpredictable consequences.”
As global leaders watched for Tehran’s next move, Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called Israel’s bombing campaign, launched on June 13, “a big mistake.”
According to official figures, Israeli strikes in Iran have killed more than 400 people, according to Iran’s health ministry. In response, Iranian attacks on Israel have left 24 people dead.
