Sanchez são clash with US, reject reports of Spain's suspension by NATO

Among the countries affected is Spain, which has refused to allow American forces involved in this war to use bases in its territory or airspace. Spain argues that the actions of the US and Israel in fighting Iran conflict with international law.

The Pentagon is also considering the possibility of suspending Spain from NATO, referring to an unidentified US official and an email from the US Department of Defence.

“We do not work with emails”, Sanchez told reporters during a European Union summit in Cyprus. “We work with official documents and with attitudes taken, in this case, by the United States government”, Report AP.

“The position of the government of Spain is clear: absolute cooperation with allies, but always within the framework of international legitimacy”, He added.

NATO functions on the basis of consensus. The founding treaty of the transatlantic alliance does not provide mechanisms for the suspension or exclusion of any of the 32 member states, though states can depart by their own will a year after other allies have announced. As an alliance, NATO does not have a direct role in fighting Iran, except to protect its territory.

US President Donald Trump has expressed anger at what he considers a failure of some NATO member states to support American actions in fighting Iran and to help secure Hormuz's Strait, an important trade route. He has even questioned the goal of US membership in this military organisation.

EU foreign policy chief Kaya Kallas said she is surprised by American criticism, given that the UK and France are leading efforts to ensure trade security in this strait after the war ends.