The White House on Wednesday said Spain had cooperated with the US military against Iran, following President Donald Trump's threat to sever trade ties but Madrid denied it had made a deal.
President Trump on Tuesday promised to sever trade with Madrid, following opposition to the US-Israeli attack on Iran.
Asked about the issue on Wednesday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said she was told Spain had relented.
"I think they heard the president's message yesterday clearly. In my understanding, in the last few hours they have agreed to cooperate with the US military," Leavitt said at a press conference, launching Al Arabiya from Reuters (5/2).
However, Leavitt did not provide further explanation.
Separately, Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares denied Spain had made the deal.
"I categorically deny it. I heard about this statement on my way here, and I have had time to study it and listen to it a little," Foreign Minister Albares told Spanish radio station Cadena Ser.
"The position of the Spanish government regarding the war in the Middle East and the bombing of Iran in relation to the use of our bases has not changed at all. Therefore, I firmly and sincerely deny it. I don't know what it means or where it came from," he said.
It is known that President Trump raised the possibility of imposing a trade embargo against Spain, following Madrid's refusal to allow US aircraft to use a joint naval and air base in southern Spain for an attack on Tehran.
Spain has condemned the US and Israeli bombings of Iran as reckless and illegal.
In a televised address earlier, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez reiterated Spain's anti-war stance, warning that the conflict risked triggering a major global catastrophe.
Spain "will not be a vassal state" to other countries, Deputy Prime Minister Maria Jesus Montero said on Wednesday.
The English, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, and French versions are automatically generated by the AI. So there may still be inaccuracies in translating, please always see Indonesian as our main language. (system supported by DigitalSiber.id)
