Spanish PM Warns Middle East War Far Worse than 2003 Iraq Invasion

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. (Wikimedia Commons/© European Union, 1998 – 2026)

JAKARTA - Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Wednesday warned that the Middle East war presents a "much worse" scenario than the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

"This is not the same scenario as the illegal war in Iraq. We are facing something much worse. Much worse. With the potential for much wider and deeper impacts," he told parliament, launching Al Arabiya from AFP (25/3).

"This time, this is an absurd and illegal war. A cruel war that prevents us from achieving our economic, social, and environmental goals," he said.

Furthermore, the Socialist Prime Minister rejected Washington's request to use the Madrid military base against Iran, even though US President Donald Trump threatened to cut trade with Spain as a result.

PM Sanchez said the US invasion of Iraq in 2003 failed to achieve its goals and instead worsened the lives of ordinary people.

He also warned that an attack on Iran could have a similar economic impact on millions of people.

PM Sanchez's statement on Iraq may touch the hearts of Spanish voters. The support of the then ruling conservative People's Party (PP) for the war was very unpopular and triggered mass protests.

A majority of Spaniards, 53.2 percent, support Prime Minister Sanchez's decision not to allow the United States to use the Rota Naval Base and Moron Air Base in an attack on Iran, according to a poll published earlier this month in the daily newspaper El Pais.

It is known that the US and Israel have carried out air raids against Iran since February 28, killing more than 1,340 people to date.

Iran has retaliated with drone and missile attacks targeting Israel along with Jordan, Iraq and Gulf states hosting US military assets, causing casualties and infrastructure damage as well as disrupting global markets and flights.