Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares intensified Madrid’s opposition to the Middle East conflict on Thursday, April 9, 2026, describing the U.S. and Israeli military campaigns as an “attack on civilization.” Defying explicit threats from the Trump administration to punish uncooperative NATO allies, Spain officially announced the reopening of its embassy in Tehran. Albares accused the “prophets of war” of seeking a return to the world’s darkest moments and condemned Wednesday’s massive Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon, which killed over 250 people, as a blatant violation of international law and the fragile two-week ceasefire.
Spain will reopen its embassy in Iran, which was closed in March due to the war, Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares says, following the truce reached between the United States, Israel, and Iran.https://t.co/IcqkKK7Tor
— Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) April 9, 2026
The diplomatic rift has reached a breaking point, with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez reiterating his call for the European Union to suspend its trade agreement with Israel to end “impunity for criminal actions.” In a direct challenge to Washington, Sánchez has already closed Spanish airspace to any aircraft involved in the conflict. This stance has prompted prominent U.S. Republicans, including Senator Lindsey Graham, to suggest withdrawing American forces from jointly operated airbases in southern Spain. Despite the potential for trade retaliation or a military exit, the anti-war policy remains overwhelmingly popular within Spain, bolstered by recent polls showing a surge in support for Sánchez’s Socialist Party.
