Spain could still be persuaded against pulling troops out of Iraq, the defence secretary has claimed.

In an interview on Tuesday, Geoff Hoon hinted that "strong prospects" of fresh UN backing for international peacekeepers in Iraq may yet dissuade Spain from withdrawing its troops from the region.

Newly elected Spanish prime minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero has threatened to pull the plug on the country’s 1300-strong military troop if the United Nations is not given control of Iraq.

But speaking to euPolitix.com, Hoon warned to wait and see how a possible UN resolution affects Madrid's thinking.

“I don’t want to prejudge Spanish decisions… I think it’s too soon to be precisely saying what will happen. I, for example, believe that there is a strong prospect of there being a new UN Security Council resolution,” he said.

“The UK government is certainly working to achieve that so there are a number of things that still have to be resolved.”

“Obviously we are looking to see UN Security Council resolution that will provide further legal authority for our deployment in Iraq.”

The defence secretary also dismissed claims that the Spanish decision could leave other nations hostage to terrorist demands. 

“I don’t accept that for a moment. We are commited to Iraq and to restoring Iraq. We will provide the number of troops that is necessary to do that job and that will go on for as long as it is necessary but no longer.," he said.