Spain rejects White House comments that it now backs US-Israel war on Iran

Spain has emphatically dismissed US suggestions that it changed its view on the Iran war and is now prepared to let the US use its bases to support the mission.

The White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, suggested to reporters last night that Madrid now backed the US’s military action after facing public criticism from Trump, who threatened to “cut off all dealings with Spain.”

“I think they heard the president’s message yesterday loud and clear,” Leavitt told a news briefing. “It is my understanding over the past several hours they’ve agreed to cooperate with the US military.”

Well, not really.

Our Madrid correspondent Sam Jones says her comments sparked another angry reaction from top Spanish politicians, with foreign minister José Manuel Albares telling Cadena Ser radio on Wednesday night:

“Our ‘no to war’ stance remains clear and unequivocal.

She may be the White House press secretary, but I’m the foreign minister of Spain and I’m telling her that our position hasn’t changed at all.”