Afət Ziyadqızı
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei has issued a sharp critique of recent statements made by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte regarding the ongoing conflict in Europe.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, Baghaei stated on his social media account that Rutte's comments regarding Europe's involvement in the conflict demonstrate that the continent is far from neutral in the ongoing confrontation.
The Iranian official asserted that states which open their territories, military bases, and infrastructure to an aggressor cannot evade responsibility for the military operations conducted and their subsequent consequences. Baghaei emphasized that this position confirms Europe's direct participation in the conflict.
Furthermore, the spokesperson characterized Rutte's remarks as a form of "political subservience," arguing that the NATO leader's stance serves specific interests rather than projecting strength. Baghaei added that attempting to make an organization, which he claimed is viewed as ineffective by Washington, more influential through such rhetoric is futile. He concluded that this type of discourse negatively impacts the reputation of NATO and its leadership.
NATO, established in 1949, remains the world's largest intergovernmental military alliance. Tensions between Iran and Western powers, including NATO members, have historically been characterized by diplomatic friction over regional security, nuclear programs, and geopolitical alignments in the Middle East and beyond.
