Administration Spain ‘categorially’ denies White House claim it will cooperate on Iran war by Sophie Brams - 03/04/26 5:18 PM ET by Sophie Brams - 03/04/26 5:18 PM ET Share ✕ LinkedIn LinkedIn Email Email NOW PLAYING Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares “categorically” denied Wednesday that the European country has agreed to cooperate with the U.S. military concerning Iran, contradicting a claim made earlier in the day by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.   “The Spanish government’s position on the war in the Middle East, the bombings in Iran, and the use of our bases has not changed one iota,” Albares told Cadena SER radio . “I have absolutely no idea what that could refer to or where it could have come from,” he added. Trump had threatened to “ cut off all trade ” with Spain after its government blocked the U.S. from using the country’s jointly operated bases for strikes on Tehran not included in the United Nations charter.   Leavitt told reporters during a press briefing on Wednesday that Spanish officials heeded that warning. “I think they heard the president’s message yesterday loud ⁠and clear. It is my understanding over the past several hours they’ve agreed to cooperate with the U.S. military,” she said. Albares pushed back on the suggestion that Spain’s stance had changed, reaffirming his country’s opposition to the ongoing joint U.S.-Israeli strikes . “I want to make things very clear to the Spanish people. The ‘no to war’ position remains clear and unequivocal,” he said, while also referencing an outpouring of solidarity from European allies.   He also rejected the notion that Spain should be concerned about a trade embargo, arguing that Europe’s economic structure would help insulate it from Trump’s threats. “Why would a country like Spain have anything to fear? We are a reliable partner and ally of NATO and the U.S.,” Albares said. “Spain has a common trade policy with its European partners. We belong to a single market and share a currency called the euro with other countries. When you see European solidarity, starting with the President of the European Commission, it becomes very clear that any trade coercion against Spain is coercion against all Europeans,” he continued. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called for a diplomatic solution to the conflict in a televised address on Wednesday, warning of the potential toll on human life and economic disruption. “We must learn from history; we cannot play Russian roulette with the fate of millions of people,” he said, according to a transcript from the Secretariat of State for Communication. “The powers involved in this conflict must immediately cease hostilities and choose dialogue and diplomacy. And the rest of us must act with coherence, defending now the same values that we defend when we talk about Ukraine, Gaza, Venezuela, or Greenland,” Sánchez continued.      Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Wednesday accused Spain of putting Americans’ lives at risk. “It was unacceptable over the weekend that the Spanish were highly uncooperative regarding the U.S. bases and what we could do with our planes as we began executing the — on Operation Epic Fury,” he said. “So, anything that slows down our ability to engage and prosecute this war in the fastest, most effective manner, puts American lives at risk.” Add as preferred source on Google Tags Donald Trump Karoline Leavitt Pedro Sánchez Scott Bessent Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Share ✕ LinkedIn LinkedIn Email Email More Administration News See All Administration Fox News poll: Majority says Trump’s handling of Iran has made US less safe by Tara Suter 2 hours ago Administration  /  2 hours ago