“We salute all who have courageously stood against aggression and atrocities, particularly the humanitarian stance of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. The world must distinguish between the aggressor and the defender,” Mohammad Reza Aref said in a message on his X account.

“Based on the UN Charter, Iran seeks nothing beyond its legal rights and the defense of its national security against any encroachment and state terrorism,” Iran first vice-president further stated.

Giving a speech in Spain parliament earlier in March, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez warned that the Iran war represents a "far worse" scenario than the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

"This is not the same scenario as the illegal war in Iraq. We are facing something far worse. Much worse. With a potential impact that is far broader and far deeper," he told parliament.

"This time, it's an absurd and illegal war. A cruel one that sets us back from achieving our economic, social and environmental goals."

The prime minister has refused Washington's requests to use Madrid's military bases to launch strikes against Iran, despite US President Donald Trump's threat to sever trade with Spain as a result.