Spain closes airspace to US planes involved in Iran war

Hind Al Soulia - Riyadh - MADRID — Spain has closed its airspace to US planes involved in attacks on Iran, a step beyond its ‌previous denial of jointly-operated military bases, Defense Minister Margarita Robles said on Monday.

"We don't authorize either the use of military bases or the use of airspace for actions related to the war in Iran," she told reporters ⁠in Madrid. Spain had "made this clear to the American government from the beginning", she added.

Spanish newspaper El Pais had first reported the news on Monday, citing military sources.

The closure of the airspace forces military planes to bypass NATO member Spain en route to their targets in the Middle East, but it does not include emergency situations, El Pais added.

"This decision is part of the decision already made by the Spanish government not to participate in or contribute ‌to ⁠a war which was initiated unilaterally and against international law," Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo said during an interview with radio Cadena Ser when asked if the decision to close Spain's airspace could ⁠worsen relations with the United States.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has been one of the most vocal opponents of the US-⁠Israeli attacks on Iran, describing them as reckless and illegal.

Foreign Affairs Minister José Manuel Albares stated that 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 over its opposition to the Iran war.

Since the start of the war in late February, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has been one of the most vocal opponents of the US and Israeli attacks on Iran, describing them as "reckless" and "illegal".

Earlier in March, Sánchez said Spain had denied the US use of the two jointly run military bases at Rota and Morón, both in Andalusia.

Last Wednesday, he also announced 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 said.

Some US bombers involved in operations in Iran are stationed at the RAF Fairford base in Gloucestershire in the UK, after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced on March 1 that the UK had agreed to the request from the US.

Planes taking off from there will be forced to bypass much of the Iberian peninsula — either by flying over the eastern Atlantic or France.

El País reported that aircraft would only be able to transit through Spain's airspace or land at the bases in case of emergency.

In a 10-minute televised address on March 4, the Spanish prime minister reflected on the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, as well as the Iraq War more than 20 years ago, and said the Spanish government's position could be summed up as "no to war".

Later in March, the Iranian embassy in Spain said Tehran would be receptive to requests from Madrid concerning transit through the Strait of Hormuz because Spain was "committed to international law".

Around 20% of the world's oil supply normally passes through the narrow waterway between Iran and the tip of the Arabian peninsula.

For weeks the threat of attacks by Iranian drones, missiles and potentially mines has kept it effectively closed, sending oil prices shooting.