Spain rejects claim of military cooperation with US on Iran

Spain has rejected a claim from Washington that it agreed to cooperate with US military operations against Iran, as tensions between Madrid and the United States deepen following the recent US and Israeli attacks on Iran.

The dispute intensified after US President Donald Trump threatened trade retaliation against Spain over its refusal to allow its territory to be used in the war.

Madrid reiterates opposition to the war
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez repeated his opposition to the conflict on Wednesday, declaring that Spain would not support the US-Israeli attacks on Iran.

In a televised address, Sanchez summarized his government’s position in four words: “no to the war.”

He said Spain would not become complicit in actions that it considers harmful to global stability or contrary to its principles and national interests.

The statement marks the latest policy clash between Sanchez and Trump since the escalation of hostilities in the region.

Dispute over use of Spanish bases
The disagreement escalated after White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said earlier on Wednesday that Spain had agreed to cooperate with the US military, though she did not provide details about the alleged cooperation.

Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares quickly rejected the claim. Speaking to Cadena SER radio, Albares said Spain’s position had not changed regarding the use of its bases, the war in West Asia, or the bombardment of Iran.

Madrid has repeatedly stated that the US military bases jointly operated with Spain remain under Spanish sovereignty and cannot be used for attacks against Iran.

Spain cites international law in opposition to the strikes
Madrid has framed its position primarily around international law and the authority of the United Nations.

Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares previously stated that the US and Israeli attacks on Iran lacked legal backing under the UN Charter and urged the European Union to take a stronger stance in favor of de-escalation. Speaking to Bloomberg Television earlier this week, Albares said Spain believes military action must always occur within the framework of the UN Charter and collective international mechanisms.

He argued that Europe should serve as a balancing voice in the crisis by prioritizing diplomacy and respect for international law rather than escalation.

Spain has increasingly diverged from Washington’s approach in several areas of foreign policy. Madrid previously criticized US actions against Venezuela earlier this year and last year barred the use of Spanish ports and military bases for the transfer of weapons to “Israel” during the war on Gaza.

The Spanish government has also pushed back against US pressure for NATO members to raise defense spending to five percent of GDP, with Albares arguing that such commitments could divert resources from other national priorities.

Trump threatens economic retaliation
Trump criticized Spain’s stance on Tuesday, describing the country as a “terrible” ally and threatening to cut trade ties with the European economy.

Spain is part of the European Union, however, meaning goods move freely between its 27 member states. Analysts say this would complicate any attempt to impose trade restrictions targeting Spain alone.

Angel Saz Carranza, director of the Esade Center for Global Economy and Geopolitics, said it remains unclear whether Trump’s threats would translate into concrete policy measures.

“Trump’s words don’t always become policy,” he said, adding that it remains to be seen whether Washington would follow through on such measures.

Iran criticizes Western escalation
Iran has condemned the US and Israeli bombardment that triggered the latest regional escalation and warned that continued aggression would face retaliation.

The attacks began on February 28 and targeted multiple sites across Iran, leading Tehran to launch missile and drone strikes against Israeli positions and US military bases in the region.