Spain Withdraws Frigate from US Carrier Group amid Differences
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Spain said on Tuesday that it had temporarily withdrawn a frigate from USS Abraham Lincoln carrier group in the region in a possible sign of diplomatic differences between Europe and Washington over Iran.
The Spanish Defense Ministry did not give reasons for the pullout of the 215-sailor Mendez Nunez from the group led by US aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln.
But acting defense minister Margarita Robles was to explain the motives later on Tuesday at a news conference in Brussels, a spokesman said, according to Reuters.
The United States sent the aircraft carrier and B-52 bombers to the Middle East in a move US officials described as “a clear and unmistakable message” to Iran.
While the European Union shares some US concerns, it still backs the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers that US President Donald Trump withdrew from last year.
