A possible sign of diplomatic differences between Europe and the US over Iran seems to have appeared as Spain on Tuesday said it had temporarily withdrawn a frigate from a US-led combat group in the Gulf.
Spain’s Defence Ministry did not cite reasons for withdrawing the Mendez Nunez from the group led by US aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln. The US had sent the aircraft carrier and B-52 bombers to the Middle East to counter threats from Iran to American forces in the region, according to US officials. US President Donald Trump is also seeking to cut off Iran’s oil exports to pressure Tehran to curb its nuclear programme and its support for proxies in Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen.
While the EU shares some US concerns, including over Iran’s involvement in Syria, it still backs a 2015 nuclear deal with Tehran from which Trump withdrew.