Spain has reportedly closed its airspace to U.S. military aircraft involved in strikes on Iran, according to the Spanish newspaper El País, citing military sources. The move goes beyond Madrid’s earlier refusal to allow the use of joint military bases for the operation.
The restriction forces U.S. military planes to bypass Spain, a NATO member, on their way to the Middle East, although emergency situations are excluded. Spain’s Ministry of Defense has not yet issued an official comment.
Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo stated in a radio interview that the decision reflects the government’s position of not participating in or supporting a war launched unilaterally and in violation of international law.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has been a strong critic of the U.S. strikes on Iran, describing them as reckless and unlawful. In response, U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to cut trade relations with Spain over its refusal to grant access to military bases.
