Why is Tehran accusing Nato of complicity in the war?

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Tehran is accusing Nato of complicity because Nato leaders said US operations in Iran used allied bases and airport access
Tehran is accusing Nato of complicity in the US-Israeli war against Iran after Nato chief Mark Rutte said Nato supported the United States in the conflict and disclosed operational details about how the campaign was carried out. Rutte told Fox News that about 500 American planes took off from US bases in Italy to support the operation in Iran, referred to by the US as “Epic Fury”, and he also said Romania reduced commercial flights so airports could be used for tanker facilities during the Iran war. Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei condemned Rutte’s statements as an admission of Nato’s “active complicity” in an unlawful war.
Rutte’s remarks linked Nato support to US military operations
Rutte said Nato backed the United States in the conflict and described how allies made their bases available for “Epic Fury”. He specifically told Fox News that “five hundred US planes” took off from US bases in Italy to support the operation against Iran. He also said Romania “cut down on commercial air flights and airplanes” because airports had to be used for tanker facilities during the Iran war.
Tehran framed the statements as an admission of active complicity
Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei condemned Rutte’s disclosures as a “clear and damning admission” of Nato’s “active complicity”. He described the war as an “unlawful war of aggression” against a sovereign UN member state. Baqaei also accused Nato of “a flagrant violation” of peremptory norms of international law and core principles of the UN Charter.
Italy clarified the type of flights it authorised during Epic Fury
Italy’s defence ministry moved quickly to distance itself from Rutte’s remarks by saying they gave “a completely misleading message” through confusion about the type of flights authorised. It said Italy allowed only “technical and logistical” US flights during “Epic Fury” under existing agreements with the United States. This clarification was presented as a response to how the Nato chief’s comments could be read regarding support for the operation.
The accusation followed US ally tensions and Trump’s criticism
The dispute is also connected to tensions between the US and Nato allies, including US President Donald Trump’s criticism that allies were not backing his war against Iran. The original exchange described Rutte reacting to Trump’s remarks after Trump said he was “let down” by alliance members who did not back the war. In that context, Tehran treated Rutte’s operational statements about allied support as grounds for the complicity accusation.

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Why is Tehran accusing Nato of complicity in the war?

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