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Iran accused NATO on Thursday of "complicity" in the U.S.-Israeli war against Tehran after the alliance's chief said member states had provided support for U.S. military operations during the conflict.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte made the remarks in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's criticism of allies for what he described as insufficient support during the war with Iran.
"Country after country, ally after ally after ally, have made their bases available for Epic Fury," Rutte told Fox News, referring to the U.S. military operation against Iran.
"Five hundred U.S. planes took off from U.S. bases in Italy to support Epic Fury," he said.
Rutte also said Romania "cut down on commercial air flights and airplanes because they had to use the airports for the tanker facilities" during the Iran war.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei condemned what he called the NATO chief's admission of "active complicity" in an "unlawful war."
"This is a clear and damning admission of NATO's active complicity in an unlawful war of aggression against a sovereign UN Member State," Baqaei wrote on X.
He accused NATO of "a flagrant violation of peremptory norms of international law and the core principles of the UN Charter."
Trump's second term has been marked by tensions with NATO allies, several of whom have voiced skepticism over the need for the conflict in the Middle East.
Trump told Rutte on Wednesday that he was "let down" by members of the alliance who did not back his war against Iran.
Trump voiced frustration Wednesday with several NATO allies over what he described as insufficient support during the war with Iran.
Speaking alongside Rutte at the White House, Trump was asked whether he still believed some European allies had treated the U.S. unfairly and what they could do to improve relations.
Trump said he had been "disappointed" by the response of several key NATO members, including Italy, the United Kingdom, Germany and France.
"I was disappointed with Italy. I was disappointed with the UK," he said. "We were disappointed with Germany and France. We're disappointed with most of them."
Trump also accused Spain of failing to contribute sufficiently to the alliance's collective efforts.
"Spain is a horror show. Spain is terrible," he said. "They don't want to pay anything. They think they're in for a free ride."
Despite his criticism of several alliance members, Trump praised Rutte and said the two leaders would discuss recent developments and the role of NATO allies.
"I have great respect for this man," Trump said, referring to the NATO secretary-general. "We're going to be discussing what took place, and we'll see what happened."
Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian electronically signed a memorandum of understanding on June 17 aimed at ending the war and reaching a lasting peace agreement.
The region had been on edge since the U.S. and Israel launched strikes against Iran on Feb. 28, triggering retaliatory attacks from Tehran targeting U.S. assets across the Middle East.
A ceasefire was reached April 8.
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