NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte’s recent comments acknowledging European support for U.S.-Israeli military operations against Iran have sparked controversy and condemnation from Tehran. In an interview on June 26, Rutte detailed Italy’s role in permitting 500 U.S. military aircraft to operate from American bases on its soil during a 40-day bombing campaign that began on February 28, 2026. He also identified Romania as a key facilitator, citing its restriction of commercial air traffic to accommodate U.S. military flights.
Iran has condemned these admissions, describing them as evidence of NATO’s active complicity in what Tehran terms an unlawful war of aggression. Official Iranian reports attribute the U.S.-Israeli strikes to the deaths of at least 3,375 Iranian civilians and injuries to around 21,000 others. The campaign reportedly targeted civilian infrastructure across multiple cities, including Tehran, Isfahan, Shiraz, Tabriz, and Bandar Abbas, damaging or destroying nearly 150,000 civilian facilities such as schools, hospitals, and residences. The deadliest single attack occurred on the first day of the conflict in Minab, where a strike on a girls’ school killed 168 children, marking it as the deadliest U.S. military action since the 1991 Gulf War.
In response to Rutte’s statements, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei condemned the involvement as a violation of international law and the UN Charter, calling for accountability from NATO and its member states. The Iranian Embassy in Italy demanded explanations from Rome and Bucharest regarding their roles in facilitating the military campaign, while Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi referenced UN General Assembly Resolution 3314, which regards allowing a state to use another’s territory for aggression as an act of aggression itself.
However, Italian officials have rejected Rutte’s characterization of Italy’s involvement. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni described the NATO chief’s remarks as “oversimplified,” asserting that Italy did not participate in the war against Iran. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani stated that Italy never authorized the use of its bases for military actions targeting Iran, while Defense Minister Guido Crosetto downplayed the significance of the flights by noting the number of transits was lower than in previous years. Despite these rebuttals, Iranian diplomat Abbas Araghchi called for a formal and unequivocal denial from Italy.
The United Kingdom, despite official statements distancing itself from the conflict, appears to have facilitated U.S. operations as well. British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer authorized U.S. use of British military bases, including RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, which now serves as a forward base for U.S. strategic bombers reportedly prepared for offensive missions in Iran. A former RAF squadron leader characterized the military activities as clearly offensive rather than defensive.
Legal experts note that under international law and the UN Charter, the use of force against another country’s territory is prohibited. States that knowingly support such actions may bear legal responsibility for resulting violations. If the involvement of Italy, Romania, and the United Kingdom is substantiated, these countries could face demands to cease their support, potential prosecution for complicity in war crimes, and reparations to Iran.