NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has defended the recent US military strikes on Iran, describing them as “absolutely necessary” during his remarks ahead of the 2026 NATO Summit in Ankara.
“I think it was absolutely necessary because when you have a ceasefire, Iran is basically violating the ceasefire. We’ve seen what happened yesterday with ships being attacked. I think it is totally crucial that the US forcefully react,” the NATO chief said.
The US Central Command said American forces carried out strikes on more than 80 Iranian targets after Tehran allegedly attacked three commercial vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz. The operation targeted air defence systems, command centres, coastal radar sites, anti-ship missile capabilities and IRGC boats.
Iran later launched drone and missile attacks on US-linked military facilities in Bahrain and Kuwait, according to Iran’s state-affiliated Fars News Agency. The IRGC also claimed it targeted 85 US military facilities and shot down an American MQ-9 drone over Bushehr Province.
Rutte also said, “I expect allies today to reconfirm that Iran should never ever get its hands on a nuclear capability.”
The NATO Summit is focused on defence spending, defence industry cooperation and continued military support for Ukraine.
