Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez speaks during a press conference after attending a special summit of European Union leaders to discuss transatlantic relations, in Brussels, Belgium, Jan. 23, 2026. Photo: REUTERS/Yves Herman

Iran indicated on Thursday that Spain would be allowed safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz if it requested access, praising the Spanish government for its hostile posture toward the US-Israeli military campaign.

“BREAKING NEWS: Iran considers Spain a country committed to international law, so it shows receptiveness to any request coming from Madrid. #StraitofHormuz,” the Iranian embassy posted on the social media platform X.

🔴ÚLTIMA HORA: Irán considera a España un país comprometido con el derecho internacional, por lo que se muestra receptivo ante cualquier solicitud procedente de Madrid.#EstrechoDeOrmuz pic.twitter.com/WZjwCPB7CK

— Embajada de Irán en España (@IraninSpain) March 26, 2026

The post came after Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday told the United Nations that “non-hostile vessels” could transit the strait, a critical waterway for shipping through which about ​one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas flows, if they coordinated with Iranian authorities.

Iran has effectively closed the strait amid its war with the US and Israel, causing global oil and gas prices to rise significantly. According to the Iranian regime, ships linked to the US and Israel, as well as “other participants in the aggression,” will not be granted safe passage.

However, amid ongoing indirect negotiations between Tehran and Washington over potentially halting the conflict, US President Donald Trump suggested on Thursday that Iran let 10 oil tankers transit the Strait of Hormuz as a goodwill gesture, elaborating on what he had described as a “present” from Iran. Meanwhile, the US military has reportedly been working on plans to reopen the waterway by force if needed.

Spain, which has a relatively small merchant fleet, is the first EU country to apparently be offered safe passage through the narrow strait off Iran’s coast.

On Thursday, Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said he did not understand what Iran was referring to in its social media post on X, noting Madrid had consistently voted in favor of sanctions against Iran. Recently, Spain voted to designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the Iranian military force primarily threatening ships seeking to transit the Strait of Horuz, as a terrorist organization.

“What we ask of Iran and all of those participating and promoting the war is de-escalation, diplomacy, and negotiation, and that Iran ceases its unjustified attacks against all the countries in the Middle East,” Albares said during a visit to Algeria.

Thursday was not the first time since Feb. 28, when the war began, that Iran praised Spain.

Earlier this month, Spain blocked US forces from using its bases for military operations against the Islamic regime, leaving Madrid as the only major EU country to have explicitly criticized the US-Israeli strikes on Iran.

In response to an online news report saying that the Spanish government “denies that the US is using its bases in Spain for the war against Iran,” the Iranian embassy in Spain reshared the headline and added, “Iran fully recognizes and respects this position, which is in accordance with international law.”

While Spain has strongly condemned the US-Israeli attack on Iranian regime targets, other European countries have denounced Iran’s counterstrikes on civilian sites across the Middle East.

Trump has lambasted Spain for its stance, even threatening to cut off trade.

“I think they’re not cooperating at all. Spain. I think they’ve been very bad, very bad, not good at all. We may cut off trade with Spain,” Trump told reporters earlier this month, adding that Madrid has been “very bad to NATO” and does not want to “pay their fair share.”

Spain quickly condemned the strikes against Iran after they began, calling them “dangerous” and “outside of international law.”

Israel accused Spain of “standing with tyrants” for opposing the war.

Since the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, massacre across southern Israel started the Gaza war, Spain has been one of Israel’s fiercest critics on the international stage.