Spain’s Pedro Sánchez says US intervention in Iran repeats Iraq mistake and violates international law, with Europe paying an extra €100 billion in less than a year of war

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said the United States was repeating in Iran the mistake it made in Iraq 20 years ago, adding that Europe was paying for it. He said people had “naively believed” the United States, “a great democracy and ally,” would not repeat that mistake.

Sánchez said the United States had trampled on international law and was intervening in Iran instead of Iraq. “That is exactly what is happening, and we are paying for it with our own money,” he said.

He said Europe had paid an additional €100 billion in less than a year of war. That amount, he said, was more than twice what Europe spends on its Common Agricultural Policy to protect farmers, livestock breeders and fisheries.