Spain has closed its airspace to US planes involved in attacks on Iran, Madrid's defence minister Margarita Robles has said. We will not authorise the use of Moron and Rota [military bases] for any acts related to the war in Iran, she stated, adding that Spain had made this clear to the American government from the beginning. Foreign affairs minister José Manuel Albares indicated the aim of the decision was to not do anything that could encourage an escalation in this war.
The US did not immediately comment, but President Donald Trump has previously threatened to impose a full trade embargo on Spain due to its opposition to the Iran war. Since the war began in late February, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has been one of the most vocal opponents of the US and Israeli attacks on Iran, calling them reckless and illegal. Earlier in March, Sánchez confirmed that Spain denied the US the use of the two jointly run military bases at Rota and Morón, both located in Andalusia.
Last Wednesday, he stated that all flight plans that involved actions related to the operation in Iran were rejected - every single one of them, including those of refuelling aircraft. We are a sovereign country that does not wish to take part in illegal wars, he remarked. Some US bombers involved in operations in Iran are stationed at the RAF Fairford base in Gloucestershire, UK, as reported by US officials.
With this move, Spanish airspace can only be used by US aircraft in case of emergency, restricting their movements and forcing them to reroute around the Iberian peninsula, either over the eastern Atlantic or France. In a recent address, Sánchez reinforced the Spanish government's stance as firmly against war. The Iranian embassy in Spain has noted that Tehran is open to dialogue regarding transit through strategic regions like the Strait of Hormuz, which is crucial for global oil supplies. Around 20% of the world's oil typically passes through this region, with recent conflict escalating fears of further economic disruption.
The US did not immediately comment, but President Donald Trump has previously threatened to impose a full trade embargo on Spain due to its opposition to the Iran war. Since the war began in late February, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has been one of the most vocal opponents of the US and Israeli attacks on Iran, calling them reckless and illegal. Earlier in March, Sánchez confirmed that Spain denied the US the use of the two jointly run military bases at Rota and Morón, both located in Andalusia.
Last Wednesday, he stated that all flight plans that involved actions related to the operation in Iran were rejected - every single one of them, including those of refuelling aircraft. We are a sovereign country that does not wish to take part in illegal wars, he remarked. Some US bombers involved in operations in Iran are stationed at the RAF Fairford base in Gloucestershire, UK, as reported by US officials.
With this move, Spanish airspace can only be used by US aircraft in case of emergency, restricting their movements and forcing them to reroute around the Iberian peninsula, either over the eastern Atlantic or France. In a recent address, Sánchez reinforced the Spanish government's stance as firmly against war. The Iranian embassy in Spain has noted that Tehran is open to dialogue regarding transit through strategic regions like the Strait of Hormuz, which is crucial for global oil supplies. Around 20% of the world's oil typically passes through this region, with recent conflict escalating fears of further economic disruption.
