Stoltenberg: NATO will not help Israel in the event of an attack by Iran
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stated in an interview with Der Spiegel that NATO will not help Israel in the event of armed conflict with Iran. Stoltenberg noted that NATO cannot provide Israel with full security guarantees, since the country is not a member of the organization, although it remains a partner of the alliance.
Stoltenberg stressed that the Alliance does not participate in the settlement process in the Middle East. “This is not our job,” he stated.
However, he acknowledged that there is disagreement among NATO members regarding the nuclear deal with Iran, but all members of the organization are concerned about Iran’s missile program and “support of terrorist groups,” which leads to instability in the region.
The aggravation of relations between Iran and Israel is caused by the nuclear missile program of Tehran and and the presence of Iranian troops and militias in Syria. Tel Aviv has carried out strikes on the positions of the Iranian military in Syria. In May, Israel accused Iran of shelling positions on the Golan Heights, and conducted a strike against targets in Syria.
Israeli leader Binjamin Netanyahu stated that the Israeli Air Force has been counteracting Iranian aggression in the Middle East for several years. He also stressed that the military presence of Iran in Syria is unacceptable for Israel.