Spain’s Sanchez stands firm on opposition to war on Iran despite Trump’s trade threat

Madrid — Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez again criticized US and Israeli military actions in Iran, standing firm on Wednesday against fresh trade threats from Washington and warning that an Iran war risks “playing Russian roulette” with millions of lives lost.

President Donald Trump on Tuesday threatened to end US trade with Spain because Spain refused to allow the US to use joint military bases in the United States in an attack on Iran.

“We are not going to have something bad for the world and that is against our values ​​and interests, for fear of retribution from someone,” Sánchez said in a televised speech.

It is unclear how Trump will cut trade with Spain, a member of the European Union. The EU negotiates trade on behalf of all its 27 members.

Despite Spain’s denial, Trump said Tuesday “we can use their base if we want,” referring to two military bases in southern Spain that the US and Spain share, but that remain under Spanish command. “We can fly in and use it,” Trump said. “No one is telling us not to use it, but we don’t have to.”

Tuesday’s threats from Washington are the latest example of the US president using the threat of tariffs or trade sanctions as punishment. The US Supreme Court last month struck down Trump’s far-reaching global tariffs, saying emergency powers do not allow the president to unilaterally impose sweeping tariffs.

However, Trump has maintained that the court will allow him to impose full-scale sanctions on other countries of his choosing.

Spain’s position on the Iran conflict marks the latest escalation in its relationship with the Trump administration. Spain has been openly critical of Israel’s war in Gaza.

Sanchez called the US and Israeli attacks on Iran “unjustifiable” and “dangerous” military intervention.

On Wednesday, the Spanish leader cited the Iraq war and its negative consequences in terms of producing more jihadist extremism.

“In short, the position of the Spanish government can be summed up in four words,” said Sánchez. “No to war.”