Spain say its airspace off limits to U.S. planes for "actions related to the war in Iran"

Spain's leftist government has closed Spanish airspace to U.S. planes carrying out missions against Iran, in addition to denying Washington use of its bases, the defense minister said Monday.

"The bases are not authorized, and of course neither is the use of Spanish airspace for actions related to the war in Iran," Margarita Robles told journalists, confirming a report by the El Pais newspaper.

Spain's refusal to cooperate has "complicated" U.S. military operations by forcing bombers to change their routes and logistics on their way to the Middle East, El Pais reported.

The transit or landing of planes is allowed only in case of an emergency, the newspaper said.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has emerged as the highest-profile Western leader to consistently oppose the war launched by the U.S. and Israel on Feb. 28, which has since engulfed the entire Middle East.

His stance has infuriated Spain's traditional NATO ally, with President Trump threatening to cut all U.S. trade ties. Spain had already sparked Mr. Trump's anger by refusing to agree to raise its domestic defense spending to 5%, as the White House has called on all of the alliance's member states to do.