In a wild twist of global relations, Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has thrown down the gauntlet in response to Donald Trump’s fiery threats regarding trade over Spain’s outspoken criticism of the US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran. As if the cosmos didn’t have enough drama with planets aligning for unexpected confrontations, February 28 saw the US and Israel escalate their military actions in the Middle East, following failed negotiations about Iran’s volatile nuclear ambitions. With the tragic death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and over a hundred innocent lives lost in a school strike, the stakes couldn’t be higher. In the midst of this political whirl, Trump didn’t hold back, labeling Spain as “terrible” and instructing his aides to sever trade relations, a bold move that leaves us pondering—how far will politics go when countries refuse to engage in complicity with conflict? As Sánchez stands firm behind a peace-oriented stance, declaring, “No to war,” one can’t help but wonder—will his resolve restore a measure of international integrity, or is this just another act in the ongoing geopolitical puppet show? LEARN MORE.
Spain’s Prime Minister has responded to Donald Trump’s threat to cut off trade over its criticism of the US and Israeli bombing of Iran.
The US and Israel launched a wave of attacks on the middle eastern country on February 28 after negotiations about its nuclear program failed to reach an agreement.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been killed in the strikes, alongside other members of Iran’s senior leadership.
There have also been extensive civilian casualties in Iran, with one strike hitting a school and killing 165 children and teachers.
Since the war started, Trump has hit out at Spain after it criticized US strikes in Iran.
Speaking in the Oval Office on Tuesday, Trump said: “Spain has been terrible. In fact I told Scott [likely Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent] to cut off all dealings with Spain.

Sánchez has spoken out against the US attacks (Pablo Cuadra/Getty Images)
“First of all, it started when every European nation at my request paid 5 percent which they should be doing, and everybody was enthusiastic about it, Germany, everybody, and Spain didn’t do it. And now Spain actually said that we can’t use their bases.
“That’s alright, we can use their base if we want we can just fly in and use it, nobody’s gonna tell us not to use it… but they were unfriendly so I told him Spain has absolutely nothing that we need, other than great people, they have great people. But they don’t have great leadership.”
Now, Spanish Prime Minster Pedro Sánchez has hit back, and doubled down on his condemnation of US action.
Speaking from the prime minister’s residence in La Moncloa, Sanchez said: “We will not be complicit in something that is bad for the world and that is also contrary to our values and interests simply out of fear of reprisals from someone.”
He added: “It’s unacceptable that some presidents use the fog of war to cover up their failures.”
“The question is not if we are on the side of the ayatollahs – nobody is. The question is whether we are in favour of peace and international legality.”
Sanchez went on to say: “The government’s position can be summed up in four words: No to war.”
It’s four words because in Spanish ‘no to war’ is ‘no a la guerra’.

The US and Israel have been carrying out extensive attacks on Iran (Contributor/Getty Images)
Sánchez has not been alone in his condemnation of the US strikes, with Spanish foreign minister José Manuel Albares saying that Spain will not permit the US to use military bases in the country to carry out the strikes.
“I want to be very clear and very plain. The bases are not being used – nor will they be used – for anything that is not in the agreement [with the US], nor for anything that isn’t covered by the UN charter,” the foreign minister said.
Defense minister Margarita Robles explained that Spain has an agreement with the US over the bases and that if the US is to use them, then ‘operations have to comply with international legal frameworks and that there has to be international support for them’.
Auto Amazon Links: No products found.