ISTANBUL

French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday voiced solidarity with Spain following recent threats by US President Donald Trump over Madrid's stance on Iran.

Macron has just spoken with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez “to express France’s European solidarity in response to the recent threats of economic coercion that Spain was targeted with yesterday," the French Presidency told broadcaster BFMTV.

European Council President Antonio Costa also expressed the EU's solidarity with Madrid and noted that the bloc "will always ensure that the interests of its Member States are fully protected."

Sanchez later thanked Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, along with other European allies, for messages and calls of support.

"NO TO WAR. Yes to trade, cooperation and prosperity," he wrote on the US social media platform X.

Sanchez criticized the US and Israel’s “unilateral military action” against Iran, warning that it represents an escalation and contributes to “a more uncertain and hostile international order.”

Trump then threatened to cut off trade with Spain, calling it a “terrible” ally, after Madrid refused to let the US use its military bases in the country to attack Iran.

Spain also condemned retaliatory attacks by Iran targeting Gulf countries.

Israel and the US on Saturday launched a joint military operation against Iran, citing what they described as an imminent threat.

Tehran, asserting its right to self-defense, responded with drone and missile attacks targeting Israel and US-linked sites in several Gulf states, prompting multiple countries in the region to temporarily close their airspace.

Tensions between Israel and Iran have remained high since the 12-day conflict last June, during which the US also struck three Iranian nuclear facilities.​​​​​​​