Spain is pushing back firmly after President Donald Trump threatened to cut off trade with the country.
Most notably, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez summed up his position in just three powerful words.
Criticized the U.S.
The U.S. and Israel’s attacks on Iran have sent shockwaves around the world, with several Gulf countries now involved in one way or another.
The strikes, launched on February 28 after failed nuclear negotiations, killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei along with several senior officials.
The latest casualty reports from the U.S.–Israeli strikes in Iran show varying figures. According to the Iranian Red Crescent Society, at least 555 people have been killed across Iran since the attacks began. However, the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) has reported a higher civilian death toll of at least 742, including 176 children.
While the U.S. maintains that everything is proceeding according to plan and that the war is unfolding as intended, its operations with allies have not always gone smoothly.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has strongly criticized the U.S. and Israel’s military action against Iran, calling it an “unjustified and dangerous military intervention” that he says violates international law.
Evicted from its bases
Spanish officials have also made it clear that U.S. military bases in the country will not be used for attacks on Iran.
Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares stated, “I want to be very clear and very direct. The bases are not being used—nor will they be used—for anything outside the agreement [with the US], or for anything not covered by the UN charter.”
Defense Minister Margarita Robles added that any operations from Spanish bases “must comply with international legal frameworks and must have international support.”
This is precisely what angered Trump. Speaking in the Oval Office, Trump criticized Spain, a NATO ally, along with other European countries for resisting his demands, saying:
“Spain has been terrible. In fact, I told Scott [likely Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent] to cut off all dealings with Spain… they were unfriendly, so I told him Spain has absolutely nothing that we need, other than great people—they have great people. But they don’t have great leadership.”
Trump also suggested he could halt all trade with Spain, adding, “I could tomorrow—or today, even better—stop everything having to do with Spain, all business having to do with Spain.” He insisted he had the legal authority to do so, claiming the move would protect “national and economic security.”
Sánchez replies
Now, Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has responded from his residence at La Moncloa, standing firm in his condemnation of the strikes:
“We will not be complicit in something that is bad for the world and that is also contrary to our values and interests simply out of fear of reprisals from someone.”
Sánchez continued: “It is unacceptable that some presidents use the fog of war to cover up their failures… The question is not whether we are on the side of the ayatollahs—no one is. The question is whether we support peace and international legality. The government’s position can be summed up in four words: No to war.” Trump has also criticized Spain for refusing to raise defense spending to 5% of GDP, a level some other European countries have reached.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who met with Trump yesterday, emphasized that Spain is part of the European Union, meaning any trade measures would need to comply with EU agreements.
Spain exported roughly $26 billion worth of goods to the U.S. in 2025, including pharmaceuticals and olive oil, while importing about $21 billion. Officials stressed that any review of trade relations must respect international law, EU rules, and the autonomy of private companies, according to the BBC.
