Mark Rutte, categorically: Iran does not have to develop nuclear weapons / NATO chief does not believe that US attacks have violated international law
The Secretary General of NATO, Mark Rutte, holds a press conference before the meeting of the Northern Atlantic Treaty (NATO) organization on Hague, on June 23, 2025. Photo: John Thys / AFP / Profimedia
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stressed that Tehran should not obtain access to nuclear weapons, in the context in which Israel and Iran launched new mutual attacks on Monday, writes AFP.
He said that his “biggest fear” is that Tehran could have a nuclear weapon that would allow him to “gather in the pliers” Israel and the rest of the world.
“Regarding the NATO position against Iran's nuclear program, the allies have long agreed that Iran should not develop nuclear weapons,” Rutte told Hague on Monday before the North Atlantic Alliance summit.
He rejected the suggestions that the Middle East war would distract the attention of the 32 NATO leaders to be held on Tuesday and Wednesday in the Netherlands.
Rutte also mentioned that Iran is “strongly involved” in Russia's war against Ukraine.
“Iranian drones kill every day Ukrainians innocent in cities, communities, without any respect for life,” Rutte said.
At the weekend, US President Donald Trump announced that American war planes have used “bunker business” bombs that “destroyed” Iran's nuclear capabilities.
Other officials have said that it is too early to evaluate the real impact on the nuclear program of Iran, which Israel and some Western states consider an existential threat.
The Tehran warned that American bombings will “prepare the land for the expansion of war in the region” and threatened with “serious and unpredictable consequences.”
While the world was waiting for Iran's response, the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, qualified the bombing campaign launched by Israel as “a big mistake”.
Israeli attacks on Iran killed over 400 people, the Ministry of Health of Iran said. Iran's attacks on Israel killed 24 people, according to official figures.
“Let us focus on the essentials. My greatest fear would be for Iran to own and be able to use and carry out a nuclear weapon to exert an influence on Israel, on the whole of the world,” Rutte insisted on Monday.
Pressed on the legality of Washington attacks against Iran, the head of NATO replied: “I do not agree that what the US did is against international law.”
Trump said, at the weekend, that the attacks made by the American army on Iranian nuclear sites caused “monumental damage”. However, the extent of the damage is not yet clear, notes Sky News.
