The White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced on Wednesday (March 4) that the Spanish government has agreed to cooperate with the US military. However, Spain has clarified that its stance remains unchanged.
The day before, President Trump had warned of imposing trade sanctions on Madrid for refusing to open its bases to support the “Operation Epic Fury” targeting Iran.
Leavitt stated during a briefing, “Regarding Spain, I believe they received the President’s message very clearly yesterday. As far as I know, they have agreed to cooperate with the US military in the past few hours.” She added that the US military is currently coordinating with Spanish counterparts.
She emphasized that President Trump expects all European allies to work together to dismantle the “evil Iranian regime that threatens not only the United States but also Europe.”
However, Reuters reported that after Leavitt’s remarks, Spain denied reaching military cooperation with the US in operations against Iran. Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares told private radio station Cadena Ser, “It is not true. We firmly deny it. Spain’s position has not changed.”
On Tuesday (March 3), President Trump, during his meeting with German Chancellor Merkel at the White House, announced that the US would cut off all trade with Spain due to its refusal to allow US military operations against Iran, known as “Operation Epic Fury,” on its soil.
Despite diplomatic tensions, the US military’s advancement in the Iranian battleground has not slowed down. Leavitt reiterated that the US military is expected to gain “absolute dominance over Iranian airspace” in the coming hours. Data shows an 86% drop in Iranian ballistic missile launches since the start of the conflict.
The US military used long-range Precision Strike Missiles (PrSM) for the first time in history during this operation. These missiles, a new generation of Army Tactical Missiles (ATACMS), with greater range and penetration capabilities, played a crucial role in destroying deep protective targets in Operation Epic Fury.
The White House clarified that the current operation plan does not include deploying ground troops. Israel announced hitting key security structures of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and cyber warfare headquarters.
With Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei dead from an airstrike, Leavitt confirmed that US intelligence agencies are closely monitoring whether his son Mojtaba Khamenei will take over.
She stated, “We must wait and see, ultimately hoping that freedom will rest in the hands of the Iranian people.”
In terms of humanitarian aid and evacuation, the US State Department has updated its assistance hotline (+1-202-501-4444). The latest developments indicate that due to airspace closures and security risks, the State Department is urgently coordinating military transport planes and chartered commercial flights and opening land evacuation routes through neighboring countries. Officials warn citizens still in the Middle East to “be prepared to depart at any time,” with priority assistance for the elderly, infirm, and disabled.
Additionally, President Trump will welcome leaders from 12 Latin American countries in Miami on Saturday and attend a ceremony where the bodies of US military personnel sacrificed in the operations against Iran will be transferred.