Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has publicly called on Iran to immediately end its repression of peaceful protests, arbitrary detentions, and restrictions on freedom of expression.
Sánchez stated: “Iran must immediately cease the repression of peaceful protests, arbitrary detentions, and restrictions on freedom of expression. We have summoned the Iranian ambassador to Spain to express our rejection of the violence against demonstrators and to demand respect for the fundamental rights of all Iranians.”
The statement reflects Spain’s formal diplomatic response to the ongoing situation in Iran. Sánchez announced that Spanish authorities had summoned Iran’s ambassador in Madrid to convey this position directly.
This action comes amid widespread international concern over Iran’s handling of nationwide demonstrations that began in late December 2025. The protests initially stemmed from economic grievances, including a sharp depreciation of the Iranian rial and high inflation, but have since expanded into broader calls challenging the government’s authority. Reports from human rights organizations indicate hundreds of deaths— with figures varying from confirmed counts in the hundreds to higher estimates—and thousands of arrests during the crackdown by security forces. Iranian authorities have imposed a near-total internet blackout since early January 2026 to limit information flow and protest coordination, while accusing external actors, including the United States and Israel, of fueling the unrest.
Sánchez’s statement aligns with similar diplomatic measures taken by several other European countries on the same day, including France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Finland, and Denmark, which also summoned Iranian ambassadors to protest the violence against demonstrators and urge respect for human rights. These coordinated responses highlight growing European condemnation of the reported use of lethal force, mass detentions, and communication restrictions in Iran.
The Spanish government’s move, announced by Sánchez and supported by Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares, emphasizes particular attention to the rights of women protesters and calls for the restoration of internet access, an end to arbitrary arrests, and a return to dialogue. It forms part of Spain’s broader stance on upholding fundamental freedoms in response to the escalating crisis in Iran as of mid-January 2026.
