Reza Zobib, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Spain, in an interview with the SCFR Online website, examined the reasons for Spain’s non-participation in the US war against Iran, the status of Tehran-Madrid relations, and this European country’s position in recent developments in the West Asian region.

At the outset of this interview, Zobib, while commemorating the martyrs of the third imposed war—particularly the late Leader of the Islamic Revolution, as well as Dr. Seyyed Kamal Kharazi and his wife—elaborated on the Spanish government’s positions regarding this war.

Continuity of the “No to War” Policy in Spain

Referring to the approach of Spain’s left-leaning government, he emphasized that this country has refrained from participating in the war based on a principled policy grounded in the principles of “continuity and coherence” in foreign policy.

According to Zobib, the experience of Madrid’s right-wing governments’ participation in the Iraq war and its consequences—including terrorist attacks within the country—has been one of the influential factors in shaping this approach.

Iran’s Ambassador added: “From the outset, the current Spanish government declared its opposition to US military intervention in West Asia under the slogan ‘No to War’ (No a la guerra), and subsequently operationalized this policy by refusing to grant the United States access to military bases and airspace. Ultimately, it was announced that Madrid would not participate in any military operations.”

He also considered the role of public opinion decisive in advancing this policy, stating: “Spanish society strongly opposes this aggression, and this very issue has helped consolidate the government’s position—just as public opinion influenced governmental stances on the Gaza issue.”

Persistence of Iran-Spain Relations Despite Ups and Downs

In another segment of this interview, referring to “over four centuries” of relations between Iran and Spain, Zobib described them as based on friendship and mutual respect, stating: “This atmosphere, despite certain fluctuations that are natural in interstate relations, prevails over the relations between the two countries.”

He added: “The best evidence of this is that last year, under the most challenging sanction conditions with Europe, Iran’s exports to Spain not only did not decline but experienced significant growth.”

Iran’s Ambassador also referred to recent developments, stating: “Following the ceasefire announcement, the Spanish Embassy was practically the first European embassy—and perhaps the first embassy overall—to resume its work in Tehran. Furthermore, last week’s contact between the two countries’ foreign ministers took place in a positive atmosphere, indicating the continuation of the upward trajectory of relations.”

This senior Iranian diplomat simultaneously emphasized: “Spain’s opposition to the extremist policies of the US regime and the divergence of political positions between the two countries—including regarding the aggressive war waged by the US and Zionist regimes against Iran—constitutes a separate matter that can be evaluated beyond the scope of Tehran-Madrid relations.”

Spain: A Pioneer in Defending International Law

In response to a question regarding Spain’s role in strengthening the existing order based on international law, and referring to this country’s left-leaning government’s approach, Zobib stated: “Pedro Sánchez, Spain’s Prime Minister, was among the first leaders to take a position and declare his opposition to war in light of recent developments.”

Iran’s Ambassador described Spain as a “pioneer” in this regard and added: “On issues such as protesting the Zionist regime’s genocide in Gaza, Spain has consistently emphasized adherence to the principles of international law and international humanitarian law—a stance that aligns completely with the positions of the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

Will Spain Become a Model for Europe?

Regarding the possibility of other European countries emulating Spain’s policies, Iran’s Ambassador stated: “Madrid’s approach is defensible and worthy of emulation from a principled perspective; however, in practice, one must consider the disagreements and political diversity within Europe.”

Zobib concluded by emphasizing in this regard: “Within Europe’s diverse political landscape, Spain’s conduct can serve as an appropriate model for certain countries—particularly those in the center and left spectrum—just as Spain’s pioneering role in recognizing an independent Palestinian state prompted countries such as Ireland, Norway, and others to follow suit. However, extending this assessment to all of Europe requires taking into account the disagreements and political differences among governments, as right-wing governments naturally pursue their own political trajectories and considerations.”