On June 23, 2025, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte emphasized that Iran must be prevented from acquiring nuclear weapons, warning of dire consequences for Israel, the Middle East, and beyond. Speaking ahead of a NATO summit in The Hague, Rutte’s remarks came amid escalating tensions following recent Israeli and Iranian strikes.
Rutte’s Concerns
Rutte described his “greatest fear” as Iran possessing a nuclear weapon, which he said would enable Tehran to exert a “stranglehold” on Israel, the region, and other parts of the world. He reiterated NATO’s longstanding position that Iran’s nuclear program must not advance to weaponization.
Regional and Global Implications
Rutte highlighted Iran’s role in supporting Russia’s war against Ukraine, noting that “Iranian drones are killing innocent Ukrainians every day” with disregard for human life. He dismissed concerns that the Middle East conflict would overshadow the NATO summit, which began on June 24, 2025, with 32 leaders in attendance.
Recent Developments
The statement followed U.S. and Israeli military actions against Iran. U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that American “bunker buster” bombs had “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear capabilities, though other officials cautioned that the full impact remained unclear. Israel’s strikes, launched on June 13, 2025, killed over 400 people, according to Iran’s health ministry, while Iranian attacks on Israel resulted in 24 deaths.
Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, called Israel’s campaign a “big mistake,” and Tehran warned that U.S. strikes could escalate regional conflict with “serious, unpredictable consequences.”
Legal Perspective
When questioned about the legality of U.S. strikes on Iran, Rutte defended Washington’s actions, stating, “I would not agree that this is against international law, what the US did.”
Rutte’s remarks underscore NATO’s focus on preventing Iran from developing nuclear capabilities, amid heightened Middle East tensions and broader geopolitical challenges, including Iran’s support for Russia in Ukraine.
