Brussels, (Unib Rashid) — Former NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has said that the war by the United States and Israel against Iran is a violation of international law and that NATO should stay away from the conflict.

He made these remarks in an audio interview with RussiaDirect.org. His comments were later shared on social media platform X by former Swedish Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, who is currently Co-Chair of the Foreign Relations Council at the European Council on Foreign Relations.

While sharing the audio on X, Carl Bildt wrote that Jens Stoltenberg was “refreshingly clear” in stating that the war between Israel, the United States and Iran is against international law. He added that NATO should avoid any involvement in the conflict.

Bildt further wrote that no one supports the Iranian regime, but the way Iran was attacked constitutes a clear violation of international law.

When asked whether NATO could be dragged into the conflict, Stoltenberg responded that he does not think so, because NATO has never traditionally been involved in Middle Eastern conflicts. He suggested that the alliance should stay out of this dispute.

Stoltenberg was also asked whether NATO as an alliance would survive under U.S. President Donald Trump. In response, he said there is no guarantee, but he expressed hope that despite challenges, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization would continue to survive.