‘No to War’: Spain’s Socialist PM Refuses to Join Attack on Iran
'You can’t play Russian roulette with the destiny of millions.'
by Sophia Sheera
5 March 2026
Spain’s socialist prime minister Pedro Sanchez has doubled down on his refusal to join the US-Israeli led attacks on Iran, summarising his stance in three words: “No to war.”
In an address on Wednesday, Sanchez said his country would “not be complicit in something that is bad for the world – and that is also contrary to our values and interests – simply out of fear of reprisals from someone”.
His comments came in response to US president Donald Trump’s earlier threats to start a trade war with Spain after Sanchez refused to let the US use jointly-run military bases to strike Iran.
“You can’t play Russian roulette with the destiny of millions,” added Sanchez. “You can’t respond to one illegality with another because that’s how humanity’s great disasters begin.”
The socialist leader compared the war in Iran to the 2003 invasion of Iraq, and highlighted a lack of clear objectives.
Also on Wednesday, Spanish MEP Irene Montero urged her country to withdraw from Nato, declaring that the biggest threats to global security are Israel and the US.
Spain has been among Europe’s strongest critics of Israel, describing the war in Gaza as genocidal and acknowledging a Palestinian state long before other EU countries.
Sophia Sheera is a journalist in Novara Media’s social media team.