Nato ‘has no plans to intervene’ in Iran, as reports warn of attack

NATO has “no intention whatsoever” of intervening in Iran, the alliance’s top official said in response to reports that some governments may be planning a military strike against Tehran’s nuclear programme.

The United States and other western governments believe Iran is intending to develop a nuclear arsenal, and Tehran’s failure to suspend its nuclear activities has already led to several sets of UN sanctions. But Iran maintains its nuclear programme is exclusively civilian, aimed at producing electricity.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly trying to persuade his Cabinet to authorise a strike. Israel, which considers Tehran its biggest threat, has successfully tested a missile believed capable of carrying a nuclear warhead to Iran.

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Secretary-general Anders Fogh Rasmussen said Nato supportedpolitical and diplomatic efforts to resolve the nuclear issue and urged Iran to comply with UN resolutions and stop its uranium enrichment programmes.

“Let me stress that Nato has no intention whatsoever to intervene in Iran, and Nato is not engaged as an alliance in the Iran question,” he said.

However, Mr Fogh Rasmussen declined to comment on media reports that Israeli air force jets conducted drills last week at a Nato air base in Italy.

They were said to be practising long-range sorties from Decimomannu, on Sardinia, and included combat aircraft, aerial refuelling tankers and electronic warfare and control planes.