LONDON

The UK's former Chief of the Defense Staff Nick Carter on Monday responded to US President Donald Trump's remarks on Iran's navy and NATO, saying the alliance was created for defensive purposes.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4, Carter said Trump's warning about NATO's future if allies fail to support the US in the Strait of Hormuz was "a complete misunderstanding of NATO's role."

"NATO was created as a defensive alliance and all of its articles are essentially oriented towards defense," Carter noted.

Trump has called for international support to help keep the strategic Strait open so oil tankers can pass through.

The former army chief went on to say that NATO was not designed for one of the allies to go on a war of choice and then oblige everyone else to follow.

"It was not designed for that at all. I’m not sure that’s the sort of NATO that any of us wanted to belong to."

Carter also dismissed Trump’s repeated claim that Iran’s navy has been destroyed.

"The navy is still very much alive and well and they’re got multiple options for creating mischief in the Strait of Hormuz, everything from shore-based missiles and drones to armed speed boats, to unmanned surface vessels and drones, and of course mines," he added.

Tensions in the Middle East have escalated since the US and Israel launched a large-scale attack on Iran on Feb. 28, killing more than 1,200 people, including then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, over 150 schoolgirls, and senior military officials.

Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq and Gulf countries hosting US military assets.

The conflict has caused severe disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz since early March, pushing oil prices higher, with Tehran saying vessels from countries not involved in the fighting are being allowed to transit the strait.

The key shipping lane handles about 20 million barrels of oil a day, roughly one-fifth (20%) of the global supply.