'Not Russian roulette with world': Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez refuses to support war in Iran
Photo: Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez
Spain refuses to support strikes by the United States and Israel on Iran. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called the actions of United States President Trump a potential catastrophe for the world, El País reports.
"No violations of international law"
"The position of Spain is the same as in Ukraine or Gaza. No violations of international law that protect all of us. No, solving conflicts with bombs. No war," the prime minister said in a speech to the press.
Sánchez drew parallels with 2003: at that time administration of the United States dragged the world into war in Iraq.
"This led to a sharp increase in terrorism, a serious migration crisis, and an economic crisis," Sánchez says.
He also stated that after this world became more dangerous.
"We will not be accomplices"
"We will not be accomplices to something bad for the world out of fear of retaliation from someone," Sánchez said.
However, according to him, Spain does not support the Iranian regime.
"We reject the regime in Tehran but call for a diplomatic solution," he said.
Sánchez then asked who benefits from this war. "Only those who win when the world stops building hospitals to produce missiles are the same as always," he said.
Spain prepares for consequences
The government is already developing a plan to protect Spaniards, similar to measures during the pandemic and at the beginning of the war in Ukraine.
"We have capabilities and political will," Sánchez said.
The Ministry of Defense sent an Airbus A330 aircraft to the Persian Gulf to bring hundreds of Spanish citizens home.
"This is how great catastrophes begin"
Concluding speech, Sánchez mentioned the First World War.
"This is how great catastrophes of humanity begin. Very often, great wars start because of miscalculations. We cannot play Russian roulette with the fate of millions of people," the prime minister concluded.
Regarding disagreement with the position of France and Germany, Sánchez said he would work toward consensus in the European Union but emphasized that Spain is a reliable partner of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and has the right to its own position.
After the start of the operation in Iran United States asked Spain to use the joint military bases Rota and Moron. Madrid refused.
In response, Donald Trump threatened Spain with a trade embargo and possible break of all economic relations. The Spanish government replied that if Washington really wants to do this, it must respect agreements with the European Union and the will of private companies.
