Mark Rutte, Secretary General of NATO, has praised recent U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, saying they significantly degraded Tehran’s nuclear and missile capabilities but made clear the alliance will not join the war directly.

Speaking at a press briefing in Skopje alongside North Macedonia’s president, Rutte said the military actions had targeted strategic assets linked to Iran’s weapons infrastructure. However, he stressed that NATO as an alliance is not a party to the conflict and will not engage in direct combat operations against Iran.

Rutte emphasized that NATO’s role remains defensive, focused on protecting member states, maintaining deterrence, and preventing the broader regional instability from spilling into allied territory. He reiterated that allies are closely monitoring developments and coordinating on intelligence and security assessments.

The remarks come as global tensions remain high following the U.S.–Israel military campaign against Tehran. While several NATO member states have expressed political support for Israel’s right to self-defense, there has been no formal alliance mandate for collective military involvement.

Security analysts say NATO’s position reflects a careful balancing act supporting key allies while avoiding a wider war that could draw the alliance into direct confrontation with Iran and its regional partners.

As diplomatic efforts continue behind the scenes, NATO leaders are expected to maintain consultations to assess potential risks to member states and ensure alliance readiness amid the rapidly evolving crisis.