MADRID (AP) \u2014 Spain has closed its airspace to U.S. planes involved in the Iran war, the defense minister said Monday, marking another step in the government\u2019s opposition to U.S. and Israeli involvement in the conflict in the Middle East. <\/p>\n
The country<\/a> had already said that the U.S. couldn\u2019t use jointly operated military bases in the Iran conflict, which Spanish Prime Minister Pedro S\u00e1nchez has described as illegal, reckless and unjust.<\/p>\n Defense Minister Margarita Robles said Monday that the same logic applied to the use of Spanish airspace in the conflict.<\/p>\n \u201cThis was made perfectly clear to the American military and forces from the very beginning. Therefore, neither the bases are authorized, nor, of course, is the use of Spanish airspace authorized for any actions related to the war in Iran,\u201d Robles told reporters.<\/p>\n Spain\u2019s government under S\u00e1nchez, one of Europe\u2019s most prominent left-wing leaders, has been Europe\u2019s loudest opposing voice against U.S. and Israeli military actions in the Middle East. <\/p>\n He has called on the U.S., Israel and Iran to end the war, saying earlier this month: \u201cYou cannot respond to one illegality with another, because that\u2019s how humanity\u2019s great disasters begin.\u201d<\/p>\n After S\u00e1nchez\u2019s government denied the U.S. use of the Rota and Mor\u00f3n military bases in southern Spain, U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to cut trade<\/a> with Madrid. <\/p>\n