NATO Chief Defends US Strikes on Iran, Cites Ceasefire Breaches

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Wednesday described the latest U.S. military strikes on Iran as 'absolutely necessary', claiming that Tehran had violated an existing ceasefire.

The U.S. military launched a new wave of attacks against Iran on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, and revoked a license allowing Tehran to sell oil. This followed an incident in which three tankers were hit by projectiles in the Strait of Hormuz, escalating tensions in the region.

'When you have a ceasefire and Iran is basically violating the ceasefire, I think it is totally crucial that the U.S. forcefully react,' Rutte told reporters before a summit of NATO leaders in Ankara, Turkey.

At the summit, European leaders are seeking to convince U.S. President Donald Trump to reaffirm his commitment to the military alliance, after Trump revived disputes over the Iran conflict and Greenland.

Rutte expressed confidence in the U.S. commitment to NATO, stating that the alliance also works to protect the United States. He added that there is an expectation for European and Canadian allies to increase their defence spending to match U.S. levels, which he described as 'completely fair'.

'The good news is that this is the big win today. It's a loss for President Putin, it is a win for President Trump that the Europeans and the Canadians are doing exactly that,' Rutte said.