Spain Closes Airspace to US Aircraft Involved in Iran War

Spain has closed its airspace to US aircraft involved in the Iran war, driving a greater wedge between Washington and Europe.

Margarita Robles, the country’s defence minister, said: “Neither [of] the bases are authorised, nor, of course, is the use of Spanish airspace authorised for any actions related to the war in Iran.”

Reiterating Madrid’s position, she called the month-old conflict, launched by the US and Israel, “profoundly illegal and profoundly unjust”.

It marks the latest step by Europe’s loudest opponent against the war, which will provoke the ire of the Trump administration.

Donald Trump previously threatened to impose a full trade embargo on Spain over its criticism of the war.

The country said previously that the US could not use jointly operated military bases in the conflict. 

José Manuel Albares, Spain’s foreign minister, said the aim of preventing US warplanes using its airspace was to “not do anything that could encourage an escalation in this war”.

The White House on Monday signalled the war could be finished in two weeks, but that Iran had to come to the negotiating table or would “pay a grave price”.

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk