Iran must not develop nuclear weapon – NATO Chief warns

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has issued a strong warning against allowing Iran to acquire nuclear weapons, calling it a major threat to both regional and global security amid escalating hostilities between Iran and Israel.
Speaking ahead of the NATO summit in The Hague, Rutte said his “greatest fear” is that Iran could develop a nuclear bomb, which he warned would give Tehran a “stranglehold” on Israel and threaten international peace.
“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.
He stated that the alliance remains firmly united in its position and dismissed concerns that the intensifying conflict in the Middle East would overshadow NATO’s priorities during the summit, which begins Tuesday with leaders from all 32 member states in attendance.
Rutte also pointed out Iran’s involvement in the ongoing war in Ukraine, condemning Tehran’s supply of drones to Russia.
“Iranian drones are killing innocent Ukrainians every day in cities, in communities, without any respect for life,” he stated.
The NATO chief’s remarks followed comments by US President Donald Trump, who claimed that American forces had used “bunker buster” bombs to destroy parts of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.
While Trump declared the mission successful, officials have cautioned that the full extent of the damage is still being assessed.
Iran has responded with sharp warnings, accusing the US of escalating the crisis and threatening “serious, unpredictable consequences”.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei also condemned the Israeli offensive launched earlier this month, calling it “a big mistake”.
According to Iran’s health ministry, over 400 people have been killed in Israeli airstrikes since June 13. Iran’s retaliatory attacks on Israel have reportedly left at least 24 people dead.
When questioned about the legality of the US strikes, Rutte defended Washington’s actions, stating, “I would not agree that this is against international law.”
Iran must not develop nuclear weapon – NATO Chief warns