Iran accuses regional neighbors of aiding US and Israeli strikes

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has accused neighboring Middle Eastern states of direct responsibility for US and Israeli strikes against Iran. Araghchi stated that these nations violated UN Charter principles and the rules of good neighborliness by providing their territory, military bases, airspace, and intelligence infrastructure to the aggressors. He also characterized US economic sanctions as “economic terrorism” designed to inflict collective punishment on the Iranian people by restricting access to food, medicine, and healthcare.

In a separate context regarding regional security, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte called for European members to take greater responsibility for Middle Eastern security, describing the region as a “European backyard” rather than a US one. Rutte defended the US-Israeli military actions against Iran, suggesting that while the conflict was necessary, the United States had to initiate it because Europeans lacked the capacity to do so themselves. He further urged European nations to shift spending from social programs toward military defense to ensure they can manage regional stability independently.