Nato concerned over Iran’s destabilising activities

Alliance committed to stronger partnership with Gulf countries

Nato’s leaders have expressed concern over Iran’s destabilising activities in the wider Middle East region and over its intensified missile tests and the range and precision of its ballistic missiles.

“We call upon Iran to refrain from all activities which are inconsistent with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231 — including all annexes,” the leaders of the 29-member alliance said in a communiqué at the end of the first day of their summit in Brussels.

“We are committed to per manently ensuring that Iran’s nuclear programme remains peaceful, in line with its international obligations and commitments to never seek, develop, or acquire a nuclear weapon.”

The heads of state and government taking part in the meeting of the North Atlantic Council insisted on the importance for Iran to continue to fully cooperate in a timely manner with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

“We condemn all financial support of terrorism, including Iran’s support to a variety of armed non-state actors. We also call upon Iran to play a constructive role by contributing to efforts to counter terrorism and achieve political solutions, reconciliation and peace in the region.”

The Brussels Summit Declaration also endorsed a ‘Package on the South’ that includes a range of political and practical cooperation initiatives. The initiatives seek a “more strategic, focused, and coherent approach to the Middle East and North Africa, a region facing a multitude of complex threats and challenges” that Nato says affect its security.