Spain has firmly ruled out the use of its joint military bases by the United States for operations against Iran, distancing itself from ongoing strikes and describing the military escalation as unlawful.
Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said Madrid had received no indication that the facilities were being deployed for the campaign.
“Based on all the information I have, the bases are not being used for this military operation,” Albares told Spanish public television on Monday.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has openly criticised the US and Israeli strikes that began on Saturday, branding them an “unjustified” and “dangerous military intervention” outside the framework of international law.
His remarks signal a clear divergence from Washington’s stance.
In a video shared by Al Jazeera on Monday, Bellnews reported that Sanchez expressed concern over what he described as a dangerous escalation of tensions following attacks carried out by the United States and Israel on Iran. According to him, the strikes were undertaken without consultation with the broader international community.
“We are rushing headlong into an unprovoked, increasingly unstable and belligerent war,” Sanchez said.
“Therefore one that is unjust for ordinary people. Those fears were confirmed again when two countries, the United States and Israel attacked Iran without consulting the international community.”
The Spanish leader emphasised that opposition to Iran’s government does not automatically justify military intervention. He noted that it is possible to criticise Tehran’s leadership while also rejecting external armed action that falls outside established international legal frameworks.
“It is possible to be against a hateful regime as Spanish society as a whole is against the Iranian regime and at same time be against an unjustified dangerous military intervention that is outside international law,” he stated.
Sanchez further argued that the military action lacked proper authorisation, pointing to the absence of approval from both the US legislative arm and the global body responsible for maintaining international peace and security.
“One must be against a war that was started without the authorisation of the US Congress or the United States security council and as I said violates international law,” he said.
The prime minister also called for diplomacy and dialogue as alternatives to armed confrontation, urging global leaders to prioritise negotiations over violence.
“There is always room for negotiated solution, rather than being swept away by devastation of weapons as the only possible outcome,” Sanchez added.
Reinforcing the government’s position, Albares stressed that any activity at the joint facilities must strictly comply with existing agreements and international law.
“The Spanish government will not authorise the use of the bases for anything beyond the agreement or inconsistent with the United Nations,” Albares said, referring to the Naval Base Rota and Morón Air Base.
Although the US operates at both bases under a bilateral arrangement, the installations remain under Spanish sovereignty.
Defence Minister Margarita Robles echoed the position, stating the bases “will not provide support, except if, in a given case, it were necessary from a humanitarian perspective”.
While opposing the initial strikes, Spain also condemned Iran’s retaliatory attacks targeting Gulf countries.
Data published Monday by FlightRadar24 indicated that 15 US aircraft had departed southern Spanish bases since the launch of US and Israeli operations, with at least seven landing at Ramstein Air Base in Germany.
Madrid’s position stands apart from other major European powers. Britain initially withheld permission for the use of its bases but later reversed course. On Sunday, Prime Minister Keir Starmer authorised their use for “collective self-defence” following Iranian counterattacks on US assets and energy infrastructure across the Middle East.
Meanwhile, France and Germany have indicated readiness to align with Washington.
In a joint statement issued Sunday, the three leaders said they were “appalled by the indiscriminate and disproportionate missile attacks launched by Iran against countries in the region, including those who were not involved in initial US and Israeli military operations”.
“We have agreed to work together with the US and allies in the region on this matter,” they stated.