Firm stance: Spain rejects being under the United States' thumb

Deputy Prime Minister Maria Jesus Montero said Spain would not be a subordinate to Washington amid a widening dispute with the United States over Madrid’s refusal to allow US bases to be used for operations against Iran. ‘We will certainly not be subordinate to anyone, we will not tolerate threats and we will defend our values,’ Montero told reporters, cited by Al Jazeera, on Wednesday (4 March). Trump said Washington would sever trade relations with Spain over its refusal to permit the use of its bases in strikes on Iran. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez had previously warned that the crisis risked triggering a major global catastrophe. ‘We will not be involved in something bad for the world, or contrary to our values and interests, just to avoid retaliation from someone,’ he said in a televised address. Sánchez said the crisis is the beginning of a great disaster for humanity. At least 10 countries are involved in operations ranging from drone strikes to invasions, often several times a year. The Turkish defence ministry, which recently stated that NATO defence has intercepted ballistic missiles launched from Iran, commented on regional tensions. Earlier, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) pledged not to let the attacks launched by the US and Israel go unchallenged.