Spain’s foreign minister said on Friday that he had spoken with his Iranian counterpart and urged him to negotiate “in good faith” during talks with the United States in Islamabad.
“I encourage Iran — this is what I conveyed to the Iranian foreign minister — to take part in those negotiations and to participate in good faith,” José Manuel Albares told the press, adding that he had spoken with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, “the day before yesterday” and had also asked him to halt “all missile and drone launches”.
“There are many powerful people who want to ruin not only the ceasefire, but the very possibility that the parties will sit down together tomorrow in Islamabad,” he added.
Albares announced on Thursday that following the truce reached between Americans, Israelis and Iranians, Spain will reopen its embassy in Tehran, which was closed in March due to the war .
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“I have given instructions to our ambassador in Tehran to return, to resume his post and reopen the Spanish embassy in Tehran, and for us to contribute through all the means available to us, including from Iran’s own capital, to efforts for peace,” he told reporters in Madrid.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar reacted to the news on X, stating “The Iranian terror regime is resuming the execution of its citizens, protesters and political dissidents. Spain is reopening its embassy in Tehran. Hand in hand. With no shame. An eternal disgrace.”
Albares once again slammed Israel for continuing its attacks on Lebanon, where it has been fighting Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.
“Lebanon is a disgrace on the conscience of humanity. The level of violence, the violation of international law and international humanitarian law by Israel is unacceptable,” Albares said.
Regarding the possibility of Nato participating in an operation to secure the flow of trade through the Strait of Hormuz, which its Secretary General Mark Rutte has not ruled out, Albares has made it clear that the Alliance “has no involvement in this war and will not participate.”
The Middle East “is not within Nato sphere of influence”, something that many allies have also expressed, he recalled.
With additional reporting by Alex Dunham, The Local Spain’s editor
