Iran threatens Europe; NATO has warned allies

“The action against Iran is decisive for security in Europe… This means we must help wherever possible,” Rutte said in an interview with the German public broadcaster ARD.

However, Rutte dismissed any direct NATO involvement in military operations.

“We are talking about Iran, about Gulf countries that are far from NATO territory,” he explained, adding that allies can provide support through logistics and access to their own resources, without direct participation in combat operations.

Rutte emphasized that he directly supports German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who had earlier also advocated for indirect support to the U.S. and Israel.

The NATO Secretary General assessed that Iran poses a real threat to Europe and Germany, and that Iran’s nuclear armament would pose a danger to Israel and potentially contribute to broader regional destabilization.

“If Iran were to succeed in acquiring nuclear weapons, it would be a threat to Israel and potentially to Israel’s defeat,” Rutte concluded.