Some US bombers involved in operations in Iran are stationed at the RAF Fairford base in Gloucestershire in the UK, after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced on 1 March that the UK had agreed to the request from the US.
Planes taking off from there will be forced to bypass much of the Iberian peninsula – either by flying over the eastern Atlantic or France.
Spanish newspaper El PaÃs reported that aircraft would only be able to transit through Spain’s airspace or land at the bases in case of emergency.
In a 10-minute televised address on 4 March, the Spanish prime minister reflected on the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, as well as the Iraq War more than 20 years ago, and said the Spanish government’s position could be summed up as “no to war”.
Later in March, the Iranian embassy in Spain said Tehran would be receptive to requests from Madrid concerning transit through the Strait of Hormuz because Spain was “committed to international law”.
Around 20% of the world’s oil supply normally passes through the narrow waterway between Iran and the tip of the Arabian peninsula.
For weeks the threat of attacks by Iranian drones, missiles and potentially mines has kept it effectively closed, sending oil prices shooting.