NATO chief says US strikes on Iran were 'absolutely necessary'

The head of Nato said on Wednesday that Donald Trump’s renewed strikes on Iran were “absolutely necessary” as the resumption of hostilities threatened to derail a fragile ceasefire agreement. The US military unleashed a new wave of strikes against Iran on Tuesday and revoked a license allowing Tehran to sell oil after three tankers said they had been struck by projectiles in the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking ahead of a summit of leaders in Ankara, Nato secretary general Mark Rutte defended the attacks on dozens of Iranian small boats, as Iranian media reported strikes on Kharg Island, Qeshm Island, and in the port cities of Sirik and Bandar Abbas. “When you have a ceasefire and Iran is basically violating the ceasefire, I think it is totally crucial that the US forcefully react,” Rutte told reporters. Full article: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/nato-rutte-trump-us-stikes-iran-b3010930.html Watch more on Independent TV: https://tinyurl.com/yc7ukx9n The Independent is the world’s most free-thinking newsbrand, providing global news, commentary and analysis for the independently-minded. Subscribe: https://bit.ly/Subscribe-to-Independent Find us on social: TikTok / https://www.tiktok.com/@independent Instagram / https://www.instagram.com/the.independent/ X (Twitter) / https://twitter.com/Independent Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/TheIndependentOnline Download the iOS & Android app: https://tinyurl.com/2s3ts5dh Sign up to our newsletters: https://tinyurl.com/2bmw565x Help to support truly independent journalism. Every dollar you contribute will directly fund additional special reports and investigations from a free-thinking, award-winning newsroom you can trust: https://www.independent.co.uk/donations