Spanish government assures that the US did not use the Rota and Morón bases for the attack against Iran

Eduardo González Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares assured this Sunday that the United States did not use Spain’s two military bases in Rota and Morón for its attack against Iran. He also reported, after meeting via videoconference with the Spanish ambassadors in the region, that, so far, there are no deaths or injuries among “the 30,000 Spaniards in the region.” “The bases operate under a very clear premise and treaty, which has a defined perimeter, and they will not be used outside that perimeter, nor outside the principles of the Charter of the United Nations,” Albares stated during an interview on TVE’s ‘24 Horas’ channel. According to a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Albares chaired a videoconference meeting this Sunday with the Spanish ambassadors and chargés d'affaires in Iran, Israel, Palestine, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Oman, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia to analyze the evolving situation in the Middle East and coordinate Spain's consular and diplomatic response. During the meeting, Albares inquired about the personal well-being of the ambassadors and all embassy staff and gave direct instructions to the ambassadors to maintain close monitoring of the Spanish community, reinforcing coordination with the crisis unit in Madrid. The crisis unit was activated by the Ministry following the Israeli and US bombings in Iran with the mission of continuously monitoring events and coordinating assistance to the Spanish community throughout the region, in close collaboration with embassies and consulates in the Middle East. Separately, the minister is monitoring the evolving situation with the Foreign Ministry's crisis team and remains in constant contact with the Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, his European and regional counterparts, and other European officials. This afternoon, Albares will participate via videoconference in the extraordinary meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council, with the aim of coordinating with European partners the analysis of the situation and the necessary consular and diplomatic support measures. No casualties among the 30,000 Spaniards residing in the Middle East In a video released to the media, the minister assured that the safety of "the 30,000 Spaniards in the region" is the "top priority" of his department and that, based on information he has received "firsthand," there are currently "no Spaniards killed or wounded; they are all safe, as are the embassy staff and their families." In any case, he cautioned that the situation varies depending on the circumstances, as several countries had their airspace open at the time of the meeting with the ambassadors, such as Saudi Arabia, Oman, Lebanon, and Jordan, “and therefore, even if only partially, flights could depart from those countries,” while others had theirs closed, such as Iran (obviously), Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. Regarding this, sources at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported on Monday that the airspace of most of the countries affected by the escalation remains closed, “with no planes able to take off or land,” which affects “citizens of all countries worldwide, including Spaniards.” “Spanish embassies are operational, providing consular assistance to Spanish citizens and in contact with local authorities to facilitate temporary solutions until air traffic returns to normal. The Ministry recommends following the social media accounts of embassies and consulates at all times, where contact information can be found,” they added. Furthermore, according to the aforementioned press release, Albares held talks with his counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, Jordan, and Egypt, as well as with the foreign ministers of the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, to whom he conveyed Spain's support for their sovereignty and territorial integrity. He also spoke with his Azerbaijani counterpart to discuss the situation regarding the border with Iran. “The attacks must stop. Spain demands respect for international law, de-escalation, and dialogue,” the minister warned, also reaffirming Spain's firm commitment to regional stability and peace, as well as its solidarity and support for those under attack. "Only through dialogue and diplomacy will stability and peace come to the Middle East," he added, as quoted in the press release.

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