The Spanish government on Wednesday firmly denied claims by the White House that it had agreed to cooperate with U.S. military operations concerning Iran, creating a diplomatic dispute between the two allies.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt earlier stated that Spain had agreed to cooperate with U.S. forces, but Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares "categorically" rejected this assertion. The contradiction highlights growing tensions between Washington and Madrid over military cooperation in the Middle East.

Spain has maintained its position that it will not allow U.S. forces to use two joint military bases located on Spanish territory for operations related to the conflict in Iran. This stance has reportedly widened a rift with the Trump administration, which appears to be seeking broader international support for its military activities in the region.

The diplomatic disagreement comes amid what sources describe as continued European resistance to supporting U.S. military operations in Iran. Multiple European nations have expressed reluctance to provide military cooperation or base access for the conflict.

In contrast to Spain's position, Portugal has defended its decision to allow the United States to use military facilities on Portuguese territory for the Iran campaign, according to Portuguese leadership statements.

The dispute underscores broader challenges the United States faces in securing European cooperation for its Middle East military operations, with key NATO allies taking divergent positions on the level of support they are willing to provide.