Spain closes airspace to US planes involved in attacks on Iran

Munitions are unloaded from a cargo plane in England last week. Picture: Alastair Grant/AP

Spain has closed its airspace to US planes involved ​in attacks on Iran, a step beyond its ‌previous denial of use of jointly operated military bases, defence minister Margarita Robles said on Monday.

"We don't authorise either the use of military bases ​or the use of airspace for actions related ​to the war in Iran," she told reporters ⁠in Madrid.

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, reported El ​Pais.

"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," said economy minister Carlos Cuerpo, 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 ​and ⁠Israeli attacks on Iran, describing them as reckless and illegal.

President Donald Trump has threatened to cut trade with Madrid for ⁠denying ​the US use of Spain's bases ​in the war.

Earlier this month, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said Shannon Airport is not being used to help the US in its war in Iran.

“There have been repeated attempts to conflate Shannon with both the war in Gaza, which was absolutely false,” Mr Martin said.

“This is a continuing narrative from certain quarters, politically, within Ireland, which I think will damage Shannon if that kind of argument continues.” 

Reuters