We Said No To War In 2003 And We Say No Today – Spanish Prime Minister

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez Vows ‘No To War’ As US-Israel Strikes Rock Iran, Echoing 2003 Iraq Debacle.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has thrown his weight behind a firm anti-war stance, slamming the ongoing United States and Israeli military strikes on Iran as a dangerous repeat of past blunders that only breed more chaos.

In a strongly worded televised address on Wednesday, Sánchez invoked the painful memory of the 2003 Iraq invasion, which Spain under former leader José María Aznar controversially backed, leading to massive street protests across the country.

“The world, Europe, and Spain have faced this critical moment before. In 2003, a few irresponsible leaders dragged us into an illegal war in the Middle East that brought nothing but insecurity and pain,” Sánchez declared.

He added pointedly: “Our response then must be our response now: NO to violations of international law. NO to the illusion that we can solve the world’s problems with bombs. NO to repeating the mistakes of the past. NO TO WAR.”

NaijaChoice News reports that Sánchez’s outburst came hours after US President Donald Trump threatened to cut all trade ties with Spain and impose sanctions, following Madrid’s outright refusal to allow American forces use of the shared Rota and Morón de la Frontera military bases for the Iran operation.

The strikes have already disrupted life in Tehran, with reports indicating that the funeral of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been delayed amid fresh attacks on the capital.

Sánchez’s position has won backing from the European Commission, even as it widens cracks within the Western alliance over the explosive Middle East crisis that has already claimed lives and sent shockwaves across global markets.

Analysts recall how the 2003 Iraq war, sold on claims of weapons of mass destruction that later proved false, left the region more unstable, fueled terrorism, and cost trillions of dollars with little gain for ordinary people.

Spain’s socialist-led government under Sánchez has consistently pushed for diplomacy, citing the devastating fallout from previous interventions in Ukraine and Gaza as fresh warnings.

As tensions simmer, oil prices have begun climbing, a development that could hit Nigeria hard given the country’s dependence on crude exports for revenue.

With world leaders divided, Sánchez’s message is clear: bombs have never brought lasting peace, only more suffering.