MADRID: Spain has rejected any unilateral action against Iran, saying such moves would not bring stability and could deepen regional tensions.
Speaking before a plenary session of the Spanish Congress, Spain’s Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said unilateral external action would not provide the stability Iran needs, according to Spain’s state broadcaster RTVE. He stressed that the priority should be avoiding chaos and further destabilisation.
Albares called on Iranian authorities to respect freedom of expression and the right to peaceful protest, restore communications with the outside world and refrain from using the death penalty against demonstrators. He described the situation in Iran as “very complicated” and said Spain was closely monitoring developments.
He said Madrid has advised Spanish nationals in Iran to leave the country while commercial travel options remain available and urged those still there to remain in contact with the Spanish embassy. Albares said around 140 Spanish nationals and diplomatic personnel are currently in Iran, with no evacuation planned at this stage.
Turning to Venezuela, Albares reiterated Spain’s position that no solution to the country’s crisis can be imposed from outside. He said Venezuela’s future must be decided by Venezuelans themselves through peaceful means, amid heightened tensions following recent US actions.
The Spanish foreign minister warned that international rules are under increasing strain and called for renewed commitment to multilateralism. He stressed the importance of respecting international law, the UN Charter and state sovereignty, saying peace and stability depend on resolving disputes peacefully.
“Venezuela, Gaza, Ukraine, Iran — everything is connected,” Albares said, warning that violations of international law ultimately undermine democracies and global security.
