Belgium's Defence Minister Theo Francken said the Iranian regime is always lying during a live interview on Thursday [1].
The statement comes as NATO members meet in Ankara, Turkey, to discuss global security threats and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Francken's comments signal a hardening stance from Belgium toward Tehran amid broader alliance discussions on regional stability [1].
Speaking with Euronews, Francken focused on the untrustworthiness of the Iranian government. He said that the regime is consistently dishonest in its communications [2]. This critique was delivered within a wider conversation covering the intersection of Iranian influence and the war in Ukraine [1].
Beyond the rhetoric regarding Iran, Francken addressed Belgium's internal military capabilities and its commitments to the alliance. He said that Belgium is currently making its largest defence investment in more than two decades [1].
Francken acknowledged that military modernization is a gradual process. He said, "You cannot build Rome in one day" [2]. This remark served as a defense of the pace at which Belgium is scaling its military spending to meet NATO expectations [1].
The minister's remarks in Ankara underscore the tension between Western allies and the Iranian government. By framing the regime as fundamentally dishonest, Francken aligned Belgium with the more hawkish elements of the alliance currently debating the role of external actors in European security [1].
“"The Iranian regime is always lying."”
Francken's comments reflect a strategic shift toward public condemnation of Iran, coinciding with Belgium's effort to prove its commitment to NATO through record spending. By linking the untrustworthiness of the Iranian regime to the security landscape of Ukraine, Belgium is positioning itself as a more active participant in the alliance's collective defense posture.
