"Iran is an exporter of chaos to the region and to the world for many years now. Let's not be naive about that," the transatlantic alliance's secretary-general told the press.

"And what the United States is doing now is degrading that capability. And yes, I applaud that," said Rutte, who has gained something of a reputation as a "Trump whisperer".

Rutte has faced criticism from several European leaders for siding with the US president on a war many experts consider unjustified and illegal, at a time when Trump has slammed NATO's European members as "cowards" for refusing to join the war in the Middle East.

But the former Dutch prime minister insisted that all NATO members shared Washington's assessment of the danger posed by Iran's ballistic or nuclear capabilities, the latter of which Trump claimed to have destroyed in the 12-day war last year.

That said, while Rutte conceded that the Europeans took time to respond to Trump's call to help reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz, they did so for "good reasons".

The US president's blindsiding of Washington's European allies by striking Iran without warning them was "because they wanted to keep the campaign secret", Rutte argued.

"And again, for good reasons... it's always a risk if you inform too many people that things might leak," the NATO chief added, though he conceded that "that also has the disadvantage that it takes time for the Europeans to get organised".

"The good news now is that thanks to the leadership from... six countries, the UK, France, Italy, and Germany, and Japan, and the Netherlands, then on Friday... by now over 30 countries, have committed to come together to discuss the where and when, when it comes to making sure that the sea lanes stay open," Rutte insisted.