Spain closes its airspace to U.S. aircraft involved in Operation Epic Fury oan

OAN Staff Addie Davis
11:14 AM – Monday, March 30, 2026

Spain has closed its airspace to U.S. aircraft involved in the conflict with Iran, Spanish officials announced.

This decision, announced by Spain’s defense minister, Margarita Robles, marks a significant escalation in the diplomatic rift between Madrid and Washington, D.C. It also expands upon Spain’s previous refusal to allow the U.S. to use the jointly operated military bases at Rota and Morón de la Frontera.

“We don’t authorize either the use of military bases or the use of airspace for actions related to the war in Iran,” Robles said Monday.

“This 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,” Robles told reporters.

 

This echoes Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s remarks to the legislature on Wednesday, according to the newspaper El País, which reported the move.

“We have denied the United States the use of the Rota and Morón bases for this illegal war. All flight plans involving operations in Iran have been rejected. All of them, including those for refueling aircraft,” he said, calling the conflict an “illegal, senseless, cruel war.”

The outlet, however, noted that only “emergency situations” would be an exception to the ban.

 

Spain also previously denied the use of bases earlier this month for operations against Iran in a move heavily criticized by President Donald Trump.

“We could use their bases if we want. We could just fly in and use it. Nobody’s going to tell us not to use it,” Trump said in response.

He pointed out that Spain has long been the NATO member with the lowest defense spending as a percentage of GDP. The country has recently increased its commitment and now meets the 2% target, yet it remains among the lowest spenders in the alliance.

“We’re going to cut off all trade with Spain. We don’t want anything to do with Spain,” Trump said.

It appears that no official sanctions have been placed on the Mediterranean nation, as of yet.

Meanwhile, approximately 80,000 U.S. military personnel are currently deployed in Europe, and the bases can still serve as logistical support, El País reported.

The announced Spanish policy means that military craft involved in Operation Epic Fury will have to circumvent Spain by flying through France or the Strait of Gibraltar. El País noted that this also restricts tanker aircrafts from refueling bombers in flight, which increases their range.

The Iranian Embassy in Spain further stated that the Islamic Republic views Spain as a country committed to international law and is therefore receptive to any requests from Madrid, particularly regarding transit through the Strait of Hormuz.