Tehran, Jul 09 (V7N)- Iran has accused the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) of directly and deliberately supporting the recent U.S. and Israeli military campaign against the country, escalating its criticism of the Western alliance amid rising regional tensions.
The allegations were made by the Iranian Foreign Ministry following remarks by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Wednesday regarding recent U.S. military action against Iran.
In a post on social media platform X, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghai strongly condemned Rutte's comments, claiming they amounted to an admission that European countries had not remained neutral during the conflict.
Baghai alleged that European states which permitted U.S. and Israeli forces to use their territory, military bases and infrastructure had become indirectly responsible for what Tehran described as unlawful attacks on Iran.
He further argued that NATO member states should be held accountable for their alleged role in supporting the military campaign and for what Iran considers violations of international law.
The Iranian spokesperson's remarks came after Rutte defended the recent U.S. strikes on Iranian targets, saying Washington's military response was justified in light of the circumstances surrounding the conflict.
NATO has not issued any immediate response to Iran's latest accusations. The alliance has consistently maintained that its members act in accordance with international obligations and their national security interests.
The exchange of accusations underscores the deepening diplomatic rift between Tehran and Western governments as tensions continue to rise across the Middle East.
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