The controversy erupted after Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte told Fox News that several allied countries facilitated US military operations, including allowing American aircraft to use bases and infrastructure during Operation Epic Fury.
Rutte said around 500 US aircraft departed from American bases in Italy in support of the operation and noted that Romania had restricted commercial flights to accommodate military logistics.
His remarks came after US President Donald Trump expressed disappointment with Nato allies that did not publicly support the war against Iran. Trump s second term has seen tensions with some alliance members, many of whom questioned the necessity of the conflict.
Reacting to Rutte s comments, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei accused Nato of being directly involved in what Tehran described as an unlawful war against a sovereign state.
In a statement posted on X, Baghaei called Rutte s remarks a "clear and damning admission" of Nato s active complicity in the conflict. He further alleged that the alliance had violated international law and the principles of the UN Charter.
Italy quickly distanced itself from the Nato chief s comments. The Italian Defence Ministry said Rutte s remarks created a misleading impression by conflating authorised technical and logistical flights with direct military involvement.
According to Italian officials, Rome only permitted technical and logistical US flights under existing bilateral agreements and did not authorise combat operations from its territory during Operation Epic Fury.
