Spain’s Attitude Towards Authoritarian Regimes
Spain has avoided joining countries that have publicly rejected Iran and other authoritarian regimes like Cuba or China in international bodies where decisions are made and positions are distributed, an abstention that in practice amounts to a tacit endorsement.
This pattern has been repeated in recent decisions at the United Nations, such as Iran’s election to the vice-presidency of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) conference, as well as at the European level, where Madrid is among the states reluctant to label the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization. Rather than strict neutrality, this behavior places Spain on a distinct path from other Western allies who have expressed public objections.
Iran at the NPT: Spain Does Not Align with Objections
Iran was elected on April 27 to occupy a vice-presidential position during the NPT review conference. The NPT is a one-month UN meeting gathering 191 countries to evaluate the implementation of the treaty.
This appointment has generated international criticism, to which Spain, however, has not publicly aligned itself. The United States led the opposition, calling the election an “affront” to the treaty. This position was supported by the United Arab Emirates and Australia. In Europe, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany expressed concerns.
Despite the stance of Western allies, Spain did not issue any statement or rejection of Iran’s candidacy, supported by the Non-Aligned Movement. This group consists of 121 developing countries, mostly from Africa and Asia.
“Rather than taking advantage of this review conference to defend the integrity of the NPT and hold Iran accountable, we elected Iran as vice-president,” said Christopher Yeaw, State Department undersecretary 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 stated that Iran’s election as vice-president of the conference was “a recognition of Iran’s role and commitment to a world free from nuclear weapons.”
It reminded that the country was one of the first to adhere to the NPT and in 1974 proposed the creation of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East. These claims contrast with concerns expressed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), as well as by the United States and European countries, about the progress of Iran’s nuclear program, particularly on uranium enrichment levels approaching those required for military use.
Spain Endorses Nominations from Authoritarian Regimes at the UN
On April 8, 2026, Spain approved without objection the designation of dictatorial countries, including China, Cuba, and Iran, to UN 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.
That same day, Spain did not oppose the acclamation of China, Cuba, Nicaragua, Saudi Arabia, and Sudan to the NGO Committee, a subsidiary of ECOSOC that influences the participation of civil society within the UN system. This committee plays a central role in overseeing the accreditation, access, and activities of thousands of NGOs, including human rights organizations.
Meanwhile, Iran was proposed without rejection for the Program and Coordination Committee, responsible for supervising UN programs, for a three-year term starting in 2027.
China, on the other hand, strengthened its presence in multiple bodies, including the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, the Commission on Science and Technology for Development, the Executive Board of the World Food Program, and the International Narcotics Control Board.
The United States dissented from the consensus on Iran’s appointment to the Program and Coordination Committee. “The regime threatens its neighbors and for decades has violated the ability of the Iranian people to exercise their fundamental human rights,” a statement said.
More than 70 organizations warned against these appointments. UN Watch indicated that entities like the International Service for Human Rights had negatively evaluated several of these countries due to their human rights records. “Democracies have betrayed their principles,” the organization said after the votes.
Russia was also elected by secret ballot to the World Food Program Executive Board, in a context where other democracies were competitive in hotly contested elections.
Iran: The Revolutionary Guards and Double Standards in the Middle East
On January 15, 2026, Spain was among the hesitant countries to list the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran as a terrorist organization within the European Union. Diplomatic sources cited by dpa argued that these governments claimed the Guard was already subject to European sanctions and that such a listing could completely rupture diplomatic relations with Tehran.
The issue is particularly sensitive because the Revolutionary Guards, especially its Quds Force, have been singled out for years for their support of Iran’s allied armed groups in the Middle East, including Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in the Palestinian territories.
This network of influence puts Spain in a delicate position: on the one hand, it maintains around 600 troops deployed in Lebanon as part of the UN peacekeeping mission; on the other hand, it actively defends the Palestinian cause diplomatically, while avoiding supporting tougher measures against one of Tehran’s main instruments of external influence.
This caution contrasts with the position of other Western allies and fuels criticism that Spain not only avoids explicit condemnations within international organizations 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
Publicly, Pedro Sánchez’s position on Iran was evident in his speech on March 4, 2026, where he denounced US and Israeli military operations against Iran as “illegal acts.” The Spanish Prime Minister defended “non-war,” called for a halt to hostilities, and argued that Spain should not repeat “past mistakes,” referring to the Iraq war.
Alongside this public stance, various reports indicate that Spain has maintained exports of dual-use materials to Iran, despite international tensions. According to media reports, these sales totaled 327 million euros over the past twenty years, making Tehran a recipient of sensitive products with civil and military applications. This element has become a major point of criticism of Spain’s foreign policy coherence.
Cuba: Democratic Conditions to Dialogue Without Requirements
In 2017, under Mariano Rajoy’s government, Spain supported the ratification of the EU-Cuba Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement. This agreement replaced the EU’s previous Common Position towards Havana, approved in 1996 and promoted by José María Aznar’s government.
The key difference is that the Common Position conditioned European cooperation on verifiable progress towards a pluralistic democracy and respect for human rights, while the new agreement focused on political dialogue and institutional cooperation with the Cuban regime.
In October 2020, Cuba was elected to the UN Human Rights Council for the 2021-2023 period in a secret ballot. Despite calls from organizations like Human Rights Watch to avoid rewarding governments responsible for serious human rights violations with seats on this body, there was no official Spanish rejection of Cuba’s election.
Additionally, on July 3, 2025, the Spanish government announced a debt conversion program towards Cuba of 375 million euros. This amount would not be paid directly to the Cuban regime but would be allocated to a fund to finance projects in compliance with the participation of Spanish, Cuban, and specialized organizations.
According to Minister Carlos Cuerpo, the measure followed a 2016 bilateral agreement and aimed to fund sustainable development projects. However, in an interview published on July 13, 2025, Yaxys Cires from the Cuban Observatory for Human Rights challenged the decision, stating that these funds would not reach the Cuban population.
“It is regrettable that Spain has not resolutely encouraged genuine economic openness in Cuba,” he said. In his view, any financial concession should be conditioned on structural, political, and economic changes, as “the current situation does not help the Cuban people.”
Meanwhile, independent Cuban media reported Spanish exports of weapons, ammunition, or police equipment to Cuba between 2019 and 2025, despite official refusals in 2024 for some defense products. In other words, while Spain speaks in favor of human rights, commercial and financial relations with Havana have continued despite international denunciations of internal repression.
Opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Epoch Times.
