'No to war': Spain stands firm on Iran assault opposition as Trump threatens ties

Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez once again criticised the US and Israel's military assault on Iran, standing firm on Wednesday against fresh trade threats from Washington and warning that the Iran war risked "playing Russian roulette" with millions of lives.

President Donald Trump on Tuesday threatened to end US trade with Spain because of Madrid's refusal to allow the US to use joint military bases in the country in its attacks on Iran.

"We are not going to be complicit in something that is bad for the world and is also contrary to our values ​​and interests, just out of fear of reprisals from someone," Sanchez said in a televised address.

It's not clear how Trump would cut off trade with Spain, a European Union member. The EU negotiates trade on behalf of all its 27 members.

Despite Spain’s refusal, Trump on Tuesday said "we could use their base if we want," referencing two military bases in southern Spain that Washington and Madrid share, but which remain under Spanish command.

"We could just fly in and use it," Trump said. "Nobody’s going to tell us not to use it, but we don’t have to."

Tuesday's threats from Washington were just the latest instance of the US president wielding the threat of tariffs or trade embargoes 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 maintains that the court allows him to instead impose full-scale embargoes on other nations of his choosing.

"Spain has been terrible," Trump told reporters as he met German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the White House.

He also pointed to Sanchez's refusal to join NATO allies in a pledge to boost defense spending to five percent of GDP, a level pushed by Trump who says the United States bears too much of a burden.

"So we're going to cut off all trade with Spain. We don't want anything to do with Spain," Trump said, adding that he had asked Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to "cut off all dealings with Spain."

The Spanish government quickly responded that it had a "mutually beneficial" trading relationship with the United States and other countries.

"If the US administration wishes to review this relationship, it must do so while respecting the autonomy of private companies, international law and bilateral agreements between the European Union and the US," it said.

"Our country has the necessary resources to contain possible impacts, help sectors that may be affected, and diversify supply chains."

Spain’s position on Iran conflict marks the latest flare-up in its relationship with the Trump administration. Spain was also an outspoken critic of Israel’s deadly war in Gaza.

Sanchez has called the US and Israeli attacks on Iran an "unjustifiable" and "dangerous" military intervention.

On Wednesday, the Spanish leader also referenced the Iraq war and its negative consequences in terms of generating more extremism.

"In short, the position of the government of Spain can be summarised in four words," Sanchez said. "No to the war."