Spain Refuses to Participate in NATO Military Mission in the Strait of Hormuz

ILLUSTRATION UNSPLASH

Spain will not take part in any military operation in the Strait of Hormuz that could lead to further escalation in the region.

"We will not take part in any action that could mean escalation. And most importantly, we think there is no military solution to this crisis," Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said in an interview with the Financial Times.

The Spanish Foreign Minister said this when asked in an interview about whether the country would join the NATO mission to secure the Strait of Hormuz if the US and Iran failed to reach a peaceful agreement.

Previously in May, defense ministers from around 40 countries in a coalition to open the Strait of Hormuz blockade held talks, led by Britain and France.

The joint statement said the mission of the defense coalition would complement the diplomatic process to resolve the US-Iran conflict.

Previously on February 28, the United States and Israel launched an attack on targets in Iran, including in Tehran, which caused damage and civilian casualties.

Iran responded by attacking Israeli territory and US military facilities in the Middle East.

Then in April, US President Donald Trump told The Telegraph newspaper he was seriously considering withdrawing from NATO after the defence alliance refused to help in a conflict with Iran, calling the alliance a "paper tiger".