In a symbolic act of wartime messaging, Iran affixed stickers carrying anti-war remarks by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on ballistic missiles bound for Israel as the Middle East conflict enters its fourth week.
Iran on Sunday sent its ballistic missiles aimed at Israel with stickers featuring anti-war remarks by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, in a striking display of wartime messaging that reflects how Madrid’s stance on the conflict has echoed far beyond Europe.
Iran’s move came days after Sanchez declared Spain’s position unequivocally as “no to war” in a recent televised address. Among the few European leaders to openly criticise the US-Israeli strikes on Iran, Sanchez has described them as “unjustifiable”, “illegal” and “dangerous,” Turkiye Today reported.
Images circulating in Iranian media show an IRGC fighter affixing a sticker bearing Sanchez’s image and a quote attributed to him — “Of course, this war is not only illegal, but also inhuman. Thank you, Prime Minister”, printed in both English and Persian.
The visuals, reported by Mehr News Agency, show the labels affixed directly onto missiles launched from Iranian territory toward Israel. The missiles are then launched, with one of the IRGC personnel heard saying, “Allahu Akbar” (God is great).
The practice of writing or attaching messages to weapons is not new. Earlier this month, Iranian state television broadcast footage of soldiers inscribing slogans on missiles, vowing to continue strikes until the last American soldier leaves the Middle East.
The use of Sanchez’s anti-war message underscores Spain’s distinctive position since the US-Israeli military operation against Iran began on February 28, targeting Tehran’s expanding nuclear programme.
Recently, the Spanish government has denied US forces access to the jointly operated Rota naval base and Moron air base for operations against Iran, a move that drew sharp criticism from US President Donald Trump, who threatened to cut off trade ties with Spain.
At a European Union summit in Brussels held last week, Sanchez reiterated his opposition, saying the war was illegal, harmful to civilians, and already triggering displacement and economic consequences in the developing world.
Spain’s Ambassador to India, Juan Antonio March Pujol, said at the India Today Conclave on March 14 that Madrid stands firmly for peace, cautioning that instability in the Middle East could quickly spill over into Europe. He pointed to the refugee crisis triggered by the Syrian Civil War as a reminder of how regional conflicts can have global consequences.
Meanwhile, the war – now in its fourth week – shows no signs of easing. Iran has warned it could target critical energy and water infrastructure across the Gulf if the United States escalates further, Reuters reported. The exchange of threats has heightened fears of widespread disruption in a region heavily reliant on desalination for drinking water.
Trump has set a deadline, warning that the US could strike Iran’s power infrastructure if Tehran does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours. The ultimatum came even as Washington signalled it might consider winding down the conflict, with US military assets continuing to move into the region.
More than 2,000 people have been killed since the conflict began on February 28, which has rattled global markets, driven up fuel costs, stoked inflation fears and strained the postwar Western alliance.
(with inputs from Reuters)
