Iran at the centre of the confrontation
Reopening of the Spanish Embassy in Tehran
China also on the Spanish political scene
Spain’s foreign policy appears to be shifting from West to East, judging by the latest positions taken by Pedro Sánchez’s Socialist government.
The Spanish President of the Government has become one of the most vocal critics of US President Donald Trump, particularly regarding his bellicose stance on issues such as the war in Gaza and the war in Iran.
In the latest major conflict ravaging the Middle East – the war in Iran – Pedro Sánchez has emerged as one of the most vocal critics of the Trump administration’s actions, forcefully demanding an end to the war in Iran and refusing any military support in response to the US president’s requests to his Western allies for backing in various operations in the Middle East aimed at sustaining military action against Iran.
The Spanish Government not only failed to provide operational support in military matters or the use of bases, but has also branded the US and Israeli offensives as illegal, arguing for greater multilateralism. In this way, the Executive led by Pedro Sánchez has emerged as one of the most controversial actors and one of the strongest opponents of the US giant within the Western world.
US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio – REUTERS/NATHAN HOWARD
Iran at the centre of the confrontation
For the Spanish Government, the war against Iran is illegal, and official statements have reflected this stance, condemning military action against the Islamic Republic. This has caused great unease within Donald Trump’s administration, which was already at odds with Spain over differences on other issues, such as the defence spending ceiling within the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO).
The US president urged his NATO allies to reach 5% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in defence spending to match, to some extent, the economic effort made by the United States in military matters, particularly in the face of difficult scenarios such as the Russian invasion of Ukraine, as Donald Trump believes his country should not bear the lion’s share of the burden in this regard. Most countries aligned themselves with this stance, including with the approval of Mark Rutte, NATO Secretary General, but Pedro Sánchez was strongly opposed to this increase in military spending, positioning himself as a defender of peace on an international scale.
This strong opposition by the Spanish Prime Minister to the Trump administration was well received in certain sectors of Iran, where Pedro Sánchez is seen as an important international ally in the face of what is regarded as US aggression. Pedro Sánchez’s image could even be seen in footage released by the Tehran regime as an example of international support.
This stance of strong opposition is greatly upsetting Donald Trump, who has even threatened negative trade measures against Spain; however, in this area, everything is subject to the European Union’s common policy, to which Spain adheres, and it may not be so feasible to carry out these threats.
Image of an attack on Iran – PHOTO/ Social media/via REUTERS
Reopening of the Spanish Embassy in Tehran
Spain has officially reopened its Embassy in Tehran, becoming the first Western country to restore its diplomatic presence in Iran since the two-week ceasefire between Iran and the United States came into effect on 8 April. Spain’s decision reaffirms its commitment to opposing the war in Iran and its intention to contribute to dialogue and the de-escalation of tensions in the Middle East.
“We are returning to Tehran. The Spanish Embassy in Iran is reopening its doors following the ceasefire. Ambassador Antonio Sánchez-Benedito Gaspar, together with the diplomatic team and local staff, is resuming his work with a commitment to supporting peace,” the Spanish Embassy stated in a press release published on social media.
Antonio Sánchez-Benedito Gaspar noted on social media platform X that he has returned to Tehran alongside his “committed team” to “join the efforts for peace on every possible front”, in accordance with the guidelines of the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares.
Yet another sign of Spain’s alignment in favour of peace and against war and the bellicose attitudes of the United States.
Volvemos a Teherán.
La Embajada de España en Irán reabre tras el alto el fuego. El Embajador Antonio Sánchez-Benedito Gaspar, junto al equipo diplomático y personal local, retoma su labor con el compromiso de apoyar la paz. pic.twitter.com/EDVVzu0KEl
— Embajada de España en Irán/ سفارت اسپانیا در ایران (@EmbEspIran) April 13, 2026
China also on the Spanish political scene
Another political factor that troubles the United States, as a major bastion of the West, is the close ties Spain is forging with China following Pedro Sánchez’s latest state visit to Beijing.
Pedro Sánchez made an official visit to meet with Xi Jinping, President of China, which had a distinctly economic focus. The presence of major Chinese companies in Spain is becoming increasingly evident, and the Spanish Prime Minister wishes to continue strengthening this close cooperation.
It is worth noting that, in 2025, Chinese direct investment in Spain increased by 330% compared to the previous year, reaching 643 million euros, and China is now the second-largest Asian investor in Spain over the last 15 years, on the verge of overtaking Japan, according to data from the Spain-China Council Foundation.
However, Pedro Sánchez’s trip to China also had a significant political dimension, and the Spanish Prime Minister spoke positively of the Asian giant’s important geopolitical role on the international stage, even describing it as a key player that could play a decisive role in ending the war in Iran.
Spain regards China as a superpower at every level, and this may mean that it is even placed on a par with the United States, considered by many to be the major player on the international political stage, particularly in the eyes of Donald Trump.
This represents another form of political opposition to the United States, through the significant rapprochement with China, which may distance Spain even further from what is regarded as the leading representative of the Western sphere.