Following the recent report that Israel and the US launch strikes on Iran as President Donald Trump announces ‘major combat operations in Iran despite the ongoing indirect negotiations between Washington and Tehran in an effort to ensure that Iran did not obtained a nuclear weapon, and the report that the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei was killed in a joint US-Israeli airstrikes in Tehran, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has forcefully defended his Government’s opposition to the war involving Iran, insisting that the no to war stance is rooted in principles and respect for international law, not political calculation.
According to a report made by Anadolu English on Wednesday, 11 March, 2026, the Prime Minister of Spain, Pedro Sanchez in an interview with El Diario published, rejected criticism from opposition parties and dismissed concerns about US retaliation, calling for sweeping reforms to the United Nations, including eliminating the veto power in the Security Council, arguing that the current system is failing.
He also said “When we said ‘no to war,’ there was a wave of pride in being Spanish not only within our country, but also among many societies across the world,” suggesting that Spain’s stance has resonated internationally, not just domestically.
The Prime Minister also rejected accusations that the government is using the conflict for electoral gain, noting “This war was not provoked by Spain. It was a war driven unilaterally by two nations. We are not going to resolve the situation of instability in the Middle East with such a flagrant illegality.”
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez went further to dismissed fears of US retaliation for Spain’s refusal to support the conflict, stating “Being an ally of the United States does not mean saying yes to everything,” further stressing that defending international law has guided Spain’s position in recent conflicts, including Ukraine and Gaza.
He also argued that the country members of the European Union must continue defending a rules-based international order, saying “The world is changing, but the values and principles of the European Union should not change.” See More