World leaders, including US President Donald Trump, have gathered in The Hague for a NATO summit, where discussions have focused on growing tensions between Israel and Iran, among other pressing security issues.

During a joint press briefing on Wednesday, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and President Trump addressed the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran. Trump likened the situation to “two kids in a school yard.”

“They fight like hell. You can't stop them. Let them fight for about two, three minutes. Then it's easier to stop them,” Trump said, BBC reports.

Responding to Trump’s language, Rutte commented, “And then daddy has to sometimes use strong language.”

Trump added, “You have to use strong language, every once in a while, you have to use a certain word.”

NATO leaders agree to boost military spending

Meanwhile, Trump continues to criticise media outlets over their reporting on a leaked US intelligence assessment, which suggested that recent American strikes on Iranian nuclear sites only delayed Iran's atomic programme by a few months.

According to AP, The White House, in an effort to support Trump’s claim that Iran’s nuclear ambitions were severely damaged by the strikes, shared a statement from the Israel Atomic Energy Commission.

“We assess that the American strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, combined with Israeli strikes on other elements of Iran’s military nuclear program, has set back Iran’s ability to develop nuclear weapons by many years,” the statement read.

Trump called media reports on the leaked intelligence assessment “disgusting” and said they were “very unfair to the pilots, who risked their lives for our country.”

The NATO leaders’ summit in the Netherlands is being closely watched as the 32-member alliance considers a new defence spending pledge, amid growing geopolitical tensions and concerns over collective security.