Iran Suddenly Furious with NATO, What Happened?

Iran has accused NATO of “active involvement” in a war waged by the United States and Israel against the country. The accusation follows remarks by NATO chief Mark Rutte, who told Fox News that hundreds of American aircraft took off from a NATO base in Italy.

Esmaeil Baqaei, spokesman for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, condemned the admission, stating it demonstrated the alliance’s participation in an unlawful conflict. “This is a clear and incriminating admission of NATO’s active involvement in an illegal war of aggression against a sovereign UN member state,” Baqaei wrote on X. He added that NATO was committing a “flagrant violation of international legal norms and the core principles of the UN Charter.”

Rutte’s comments were made in the context of addressing long-standing American criticism regarding NATO support. “Country after country, ally after ally, have provided their bases for Epic Fury,” Rutte told Fox News, referring to the US military operation against Iran. “Five hundred American aircraft took off from a US base in Italy to support Epic Fury.”

Italy swiftly denied Rutte’s characterisation, with its defence ministry calling the statement “completely misleading and confusing.” The ministry clarified that Italy only permitted US flights of a technical and logistical nature during the operation, based on existing agreements with the United States.