Ankara, Türkiye, Jul 8 (V7N)- NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has defended the latest U.S. military strikes on Iran, describing the action as "absolutely necessary" and arguing that Washington was responding to what he said were Iranian violations of a fragile ceasefire.
Rutte made the remarks on Wednesday while speaking to reporters ahead of the NATO summit in Ankara, Türkiye.
"I think it was absolutely necessary because when you have a ceasefire and Iran is basically violating the ceasefire, it is totally crucial that the United States forcefully react," Rutte said.
His comments came after the United States launched a new wave of airstrikes on Iranian targets, saying the operation was a response to attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz that Washington attributed to Iran. The strikes have further heightened tensions across the Middle East.
Iran, however, has rejected the U.S. justification and accused Washington of violating the ceasefire agreement. Tehran has also claimed that its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched retaliatory missile and drone attacks against U.S. military facilities in Bahrain and Kuwait, although those claims had not been independently verified at the time of reporting.
The exchange of military action has raised concerns about a broader regional conflict, with analysts warning that continued escalation could further destabilize the Middle East and threaten international shipping and energy supplies.
Rutte's remarks are widely seen as reflecting NATO's political backing for the U.S. response, even as the alliance continues to call for stability and security in the region.
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