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 program, Associated Press reports on Thursday.
The US and other leading Western governments believe that 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 program is exclusively civilian, aimed only at producing electricity.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly trying to persuade his Cabinet to authorize a strike. Israel, which considers Tehran its biggest threat, has successfully tested a missile believed capable of carrying a nuclear warhead to Iran.
Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said NATO supports political and diplomatic efforts to resolve the nuclear issue and urged Iran to comply with UN resolutions and stop its uranium-enrichment programs.
"Let me stress that NATO has no intention whatsoever of intervening in Iran, and NATO is not engaged as an alliance in the Iran question," he said.
