Rutte on attack on Iran: It was a unilateral action by Israel

(Patria) - NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated on Friday that it is "crucial" for Israel's allies to work on de-escalating tensions, after Israel attacked around 100 targets in Iran, including nuclear and military locations.

"I think it is now crucial that numerous allies, including the United States, are working, as we speak, on de-escalation. I know they are doing that and I think that is the first task of the day now," Rutte told reporters at a press conference in Stockholm.

"It was a unilateral action by Israel," Rutte said, speaking alongside Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, noting that it is "obviously a rapidly developing situation".

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei warned Israel that it faces a "bitter and painful" fate due to attacks in which the Chief of Staff of the country's armed forces, the head of Iran's Revolutionary Guard, and top nuclear scientists were killed.

The Israeli military later announced that Iran had launched a hundred drones towards Israel in response, and that its air defense was intercepting them outside Israeli territory.

Kristersson said that the "Middle East is already a very serious and tense situation".

"What is now happening in an unstable region risks significantly worsening the situation," the Prime Minister stated.

Kristersson added that there is a "very broad consensus that Iran cannot be allowed to develop nuclear weapons", but said that this issue should be returned to the negotiating table.

"This could further increase the risk of terrorist threats and other dangerous activities," Kristersson stated, Reuters reports.