Spain's Sánchez stands firm on opposition to war in Iran despite Trump's trade threat

Spain’s prime minister says Spain rejects the U.S. and Israel’s attacks on Iran, even after Washington threatened trade punishment in response

MADRID -- Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez once again criticized the U.S. and Israel's military actions in Iran, standing firm Wednesday against fresh trade threats from Washington and warning that the Iran war risked “playing Russian roulette” with millions of lives.

President Donald Trump on Tuesday threatened to end U.S. trade with Spain because of Spain's refusal to allow the U.S. to use joint military bases in the country in its attacks on Iran.

“We are not going to be complicit in something that is bad for the world and is also contrary to our values ​​and interests, just out of fear of reprisals from someone,” Sánchez said in a televised address.

It's not clear how Trump would cut off trade with Spain, a European Union member. The EU negotiates trade on behalf of all its 27 members.

Despite Spain’s refusal, Trump on Tuesday said “we could use their base if we want,” referencing two military bases in southern Spain that the U.S. and Spain share, but which remain under Spanish command. “We could just fly in and use it,” Trump said. “Nobody’s going to tell us not to use it, but we don’t have to.”