Madrid: Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Saturday reiterated his opposition to war, emphasizing Spain's leadership in defending international law and human rights amid escalating tensions following US attacks on Iran. Speaking at a campaign rally, Sanchez addressed criticisms from the opposition People's Party (PP) and Vox, who claim that Spain's stance has left the nation isolated.

According to Anadolu Agency, Sanchez dismissed these criticisms, recalling similar remarks when Spain recognized the State of Palestine, a move that was eventually followed by others. "You may have heard that Spain is alone. They're the same people who said that when we recognized the State of Palestine, and then others followed," Sanchez stated. He asserted that Spain is not isolated, but rather at the forefront of defending ethical principles, and predicted that those defending indefensible actions would find themselves isolated.

Sanchez expressed pride in Spain's position, noting that other countries have echoed Madrid's stance on the conflict. "Seeing the resonance of Spain's position. It is a source of pride to be Spanish, to see what we stand for in the face of barbarism," he declared. While condemning Iran's government for repressing its society, Sanchez maintained that Spain would not respond to illegal acts with further illegality, emphasizing that "violence begets more violence."

The tensions have intensified as Spain not only condemned the strikes against Iran but also refused to permit US forces to utilize Spanish military bases for attacks, resulting in threats of a complete trade embargo from US President Donald Trump. Meanwhile, Israel and the US have persisted with a large-scale offensive on Iran, which has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel and Gulf countries that host US military assets.