Spain, Iran & US: Airspace Closed – War Risk Widens

Spain has increased its opposition to a potential US-Israel war with Iran by closing its airspace to US military aircraft involved in related attacks, positioning itself as a leading European critic of the conflict.

Spain Restricts US Access to Airspace and Military Bases

The move, confirmed by the defence minister on Monday, follows a previous decision by Madrid to deny the US permission to use jointly operated military bases in the country for operations connected to the war. “We don’t authorise either the use of military bases or the use of airspace for actions related to the war in Iran,” Defence Minister Margarita Robles told reporters, describing the war as “profoundly illegal and profoundly unjust.”

The airspace closure will require military planes, including those based in the UK and elsewhere in Europe, to avoid Spanish airspace when traveling to targets in the Middle East, except in emergency situations.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has already drawn criticism from Donald Trump for his strong opposition to the war. Sánchez has urged the US, Israel and Iran to halt the conflict, stating: “You can’t respond to one illegality with another because that’s how humanity’s great disasters begin.” Trump responded to Spain’s refusal to allow US use of its bases by threatening to cut off trade with Madrid.

Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo stated on Monday that the decision to restrict airspace access was consistent with the Spanish government’s earlier decision not to participate in or support a war initiated unilaterally and against international law.

Sánchez previously announced that Spain had denied the US use of the Rota and Morón de la Frontera bases for the conflict, rejecting all flight plans related to the war in Iran, including refueling flights.

While US military aircraft can still use the bases under the terms of a bilateral agreement for logistical support to the 80,000 US forces stationed in Europe, 15 American KC-135 refuelling planes were diverted from Spanish bases to France and Germany at the end of February.

Robles addressed claims in the newspaper El Mundo that at least 70 US military flights had used the bases since the conflict began, clarifying that these flights were military transports and did not include fighter or refuelling planes. She noted that B-2 and B-52 bombers have flown from Spanish bases for exercises, but were last used to directly attack another country during the Gulf War in 1991.