Washington says Spain agrees to cooperate with US military on Iran, Madrid denies it

The White House said on Wednesday that Spain had agreed to cooperate with the US military in the war against Iran after President Donald Trump threatened to cut off trade, but Spain denied such an agreement, Reuters reports.

Trump on Tuesday vowed to cut off trade with Madrid over its stance against US-Israeli attacks on Iran.

Asked about the matter on Wednesday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said she was told that Spain had relented.

“I think they heard the president’s message loud and clear yesterday. As I understand it, in the past few hours they have agreed to cooperate with the US military,” Leavitt said, without providing details.

Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares denies this.

“I categorically deny it. I heard about these statements on my way here and I had time to look at them and listen to them a bit,” Albares told Spanish radio station Cadena Ser.
“The position of the Spanish government on the war in the Middle East and the bombing of Iran regarding the use of our bases has not changed at all. Therefore, I categorically and sincerely deny it. I have no idea what this could refer to or where it could have come from.”

Trump imposed a trade embargo on Madrid due to its refusal to allow US aircraft to use joint naval and air bases in southern Spain for attacks on Iran.

Spain condemned the US and Israeli bombing of Iran as reckless and illegal.

Spain “will not be a vassal” to another country, said Deputy Prime Minister Maria Jesus Montero.

In a televised address earlier, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez reiterated Spain’s anti-war stance, warning that the conflict risks triggering a major global catastrophe.