TEHRAN - Just days after Spain shut its airspace and bases to U.S. military aircraft involved in strikes on Iran, Italy has now dealt Washington a second diplomatic blow, refusing American warplanes permission to use a key Sicilian air base. This move confirms a growing European resistance to being drawn into the conflict.

The back-to-back rejections mark what analysts are calling a "domino effect" across southern Europe, with two NATO allies in less than a week openly defying U.S. operational requests. Italy's decision, confirmed by a source close to the matter on Tuesday, means American bombers that were reportedly bound for West Asia, and specifically for missions against Iran, according to Italian media, have been denied access to Sigonella air base in eastern Sicily.

Spain first: A resounding "No" from Madrid

The pattern was set in late March, when Spain dramatically escalated its restrictions on U.S. military operations tied to the Iran conflict. Initially, Madrid had denied Washington access to two jointly operated military installations—the naval base at Rota in Cádiz and the Morón air base near Seville. But the government soon went further, closing Spanish airspace entirely to all U.S. military aircraft involved in the war.

Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares confirmed the nationwide ban on Monday, telling Catalan radio station Rac 1 that Spain would block any U.S. flights associated with the conflict from entering its airspace. He said the decision reflects both public opposition to the war and Spain's commitment to international law, adding that "Spain should not do anything that could escalate the conflict."

Defense Minister Margarita Robles reinforced the message, telling reporters in Madrid that Spain had informed Washington from the very beginning that it would not permit its territory or infrastructure to be used in military operations against Iran. "We do not authorize either the use of military bases or the use of airspace for actions related to the war in Iran," Robles said, describing the U.S.-led strikes as "profoundly illegal and profoundly unjust."
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, one of Europe's most vocal critics of the military campaign, had earlier declared that Spain would not take part in "a unilateral war launched in violation of international law."

The expanded restrictions, which allow exceptions only for genuine emergencies, according to Spanish military sources cited by El País, forced the United States to relocate at least 15 KC 135 refueling aircraft and other support planes from Spanish bases to alternative locations in Germany and the United Kingdom. The move came following threats by President Donald Trump earlier this month to suspend trade ties with Spain after it refused to support U.S. operations linked to the conflict.

Italy joins: Rome refuses Sicilian base access

Just one day after Spain's airspace closure took effect, Italy delivered its own rebuke. A source close to the matter confirmed Tuesday that Rome had denied permission for U.S. military aircraft to land at Sigonella air base in Sicily before continuing to West Asia.

The daily newspaper Corriere della Sera first reported the story, stating that "some U.S. bombers" had been scheduled to use the strategically located base—a key transit point for military operations across the region—but permission was withheld because Washington had not sought the necessary authorization nor consulted Italy's military leadership, as required under bilateral treaties governing the use of American installations on Italian soil.

According to the newspaper, the aircraft were bound for operations against Iran, a detail also highlighted by Arabic and Persian media reports covering the story.
The Italian defense ministry had no immediate comment. But the refusal reflects mounting political pressure in Rome over the use of Italian territory in any potential escalation. Center left opposition parties have urged Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's right wing government to block U.S. access to Italian facilities altogether, arguing that Italy should not be drawn into the conflict. Meloni's government has previously stated it would seek parliamentary authorization should any such requests be made—a stance now tested by the reported U.S. overture.

A fragmented European front

While Spain and Italy have taken concrete steps to restrict U.S. military operations, other European allies have struck more cautious postures. France's President Emmanuel Macron has said Paris "cannot approve" of the U.S.-led strikes, deeming them inconsistent with international law, but has not moved to close French airspace or bases. The United Kingdom, under Prime Minister Keir Starmer, has stated it "will not participate" in offensive operations against Iran but has not followed (of course, so far) Spain's lead in imposing blanket restrictions. Germany's foreign minister has similarly ruled out any German involvement without taking measures comparable to Madrid or Rome.

This fragmentation underscores the diplomatic tightrope many European governments now walk: seeking to distance themselves from a legally questionable military campaign.

Operational impact and what comes next

For the Pentagon, the consecutive denials from two Mediterranean allies present a significant logistical headache. Spain's closure of its airspace has already forced U.S. bombers to reroute through the Atlantic or rely more heavily on bases in the United Kingdom and France, lengthening mission times and complicating refueling operations. The loss of Sigonella in Italy, a hub that has historically supported everything from the 2021 Afghanistan evacuation to counterterrorism operations across Africa and West Asia, adds further strain.

As of Tuesday, the White House has claimed that U.S. military operations are meeting all objectives without assistance from Spain or Italy. But with two NATO allies now openly defying American operational requests and the possibility of more European capitals reassessing their positions, the diplomatic landscape for Washington has grown markedly more complex.

For now, the domino that began falling in Madrid has reached Rome. Whether it continues to topple across other European capitals remains one of the most closely watched questions in the ongoing diplomatic fallout from the Iran war.