Spain’s attitude towards authoritarian regimes – Spain has avoided placing itself among the countries that have publicly rejected Iran and other authoritarian regimes – such as Cuba or China – in international bodies where decisions are made and positions are distributed, an abstention which amounts, in practice, to tacit approval.
This pattern has been repeated in recent decisions at the United Nations, such as the election of Iran to the post of vice-president of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) conference, and also at the European level, where Madrid is among States reluctant to label the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization. Far from strict neutrality, this behavior places Spain on a separate line from other Western allies who have expressed public objections.
Iran at the NPT: Spain does not join the objections
Iran was elected on April 27 to serve as vice-president at the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) review conference. The NPT is a month-long UN meeting bringing together 191 states to assess the implementation of the pact.
This designation has sparked international criticism, with which Spain, however, has not publicly associated itself. The United States led the opposition, calling the election an “confrontation” to the treaty. This position was supported by the United Arab Emirates and Australia. In Europe, the United Kingdom, France and Germany have expressed their concerns.
Despite this positioning of Western allies, Spain has neither issued a declaration nor rejected the Iranian candidacy, supported by the Non-Aligned Movement. This is made up of 121 developing countries, mainly from Africa and Asia.
“Rather than use this review conference to defend the integrity of the NPT and hold Iran accountable, we elected Iran as vice president,” said Undersecretary Christopher Yeaw. of American State for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation. He added that the decision was “more than shameful and undermines the credibility of this conference.”
The Iranian mission to international organizations in Vienna said Iran’s election as vice president of the conference constituted “recognition of Iran’s role and commitment to a world free of nuclear weapons.”
She recalled that the country had been one of the first to join the NPT and that in 1974 it had proposed the creation of a zone free of nuclear weapons in the Middle East. These assertions, however, contrast with concerns expressed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), as well as by the United States and European countries, over the progress of Iran’s nuclear program, particularly over uranium enrichment rates approaching the levels required for military use.
Spain endorses nominations of authoritarian regimes at the UN
On April 8, 2026, Spain approved without objection the designation of dictatorial countries – including China, Cuba and Iran – to key United Nations bodies during the renewal of seats on the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), responsible for coordinating economic, social and development policies within the UN system.
At the same time, Iran was proposed without rejection for the Program and Coordination Committee, responsible for overseeing UN programs, for a three-year mandate starting in 2027.
China, for its part, has consolidated its presence in multiple bodies, including the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, the Commission on Science and Technology for Development, the Executive Council of the World Food Program and the International Commission on Narcotic Drugs.
The United States registered its dissent from the consensus on Iran’s nomination to the Program and Coordination Committee.  The regime threatens its neighbors and, for decades, has trampled on the ability of the Iranian people to exercise their basic human rights,  it was declared.
China has also been elected or nominated for several additional bodies, including the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, the Commission on Science and Technology for Development, the Working Group on International Accounting Standards, the Executive Council of the World Food Program, and the International Commission of narcotics.
Iran: the Revolutionary Guards and doublespeak in the Middle East
On January 15, 2026, Spain was among the countries reluctant to include the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on the list of terrorist organizations within the European Union. According to diplomatic sources cited by dpa, these governments argued that the Guard was already subject to European sanctions and that such a listing could completely sever diplomatic relations with Tehran.
This caution contrasts with the position of other Western allies and fuels criticism that Spain not only avoids explicit condemnations within international bodies, but also modulates its response to actors linked to the Iranian regime – even when their activities directly affect areas where Madrid has diplomatic and military interests.
Public discourse and foreign policy decisions
On the public plan, Pedro Sanchez’s position vis-à-vis Iran is manifested in his speeches on March 4, 2026, which is aimed at rejecting its military operations États‒Unis et d’Israël contre l’Iran en les qualifiant « d’acte d’illégalité ». The chef of the Spanish government said that “it’s not war”, demanded the arrest of hostility and estimated that Spain should not repeat the errors of the passedé », in reference to the war in Iraq.
This speech was accompanied, at the same time, by political measures against Israel in Congress and on the external scene, such as the restriction of the arms trade and agreements with the Jewish state. Contrary to its public speech, various information indicates that Spain has maintained exports of dual-use equipment to Iran, despite the context of international tension.
According to data cited by the media, these sales reached 327 million euros over the last twenty years, placing Tehran as a recipient of sensitive products likely to have civil and military applications. This element has become one of the main points of criticism on the coherence of Spanish foreign policy.
Cuba: democratic conditions for dialogue without demands
The essential difference lies in the fact that the Common Position conditioned European cooperation on verifiable progress towards pluralist democracy and respect for human rights, while the new agreement focused on political dialogue and institutional cooperation with the Cuban regime.
The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of The Epoch Times.
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