The Netherlands "understands" the Israeli and American attacks on Iran, but warns against escalation.
The Dutch government says it understands the reasons behind the Israeli and US attacks on Iran but warns that the conflict risks escalating further across the Middle East.
Speaking for the cabinet, Foreign Minister توم بيريندسن described Iran’s leadership as a “murderous regime” that threatens both neighboring countries and global security. While he said the Netherlands understands the logic behind the strikes, he stopped short of openly supporting them and stressed the need for caution.
Berendsen strongly condemned Iran’s retaliatory attacks on Gulf states, calling them completely unrelated to the original conflict. He said restoring stability in the region must be the top priority and argued that lasting calm can only be achieved through diplomatic solutions rather than continued military action.
To highlight the danger posed by Iran, he pointed to Tehran’s nuclear program and its support for Russia’s war in Ukraine. He also said Dutch intelligence services believe Iran has already operated inside the Netherlands, referring to the killings of two Iranians in 2015 and 2017 that were linked to Tehran.
When asked whether the US and Israeli attacks comply with international law, Berendsen avoided giving a direct answer. He said there are “legitimate questions” about legality but added that international law is not the only way to judge the situation, again referring to what he called the violent nature of Iran’s leadership.