Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, a chief critic of the U.S. war on Iran, welcomed President Trump’s ceasefire with Tehran on Wednesday but said the U.S. leader put out his own fire.
Mr. Sanchez was among a series of global leaders who welcomed the two-week pause in fighting. But his criticism marked the latest instance of friction between Mr. Trump and his government, which refused to let the U.S. use joint air bases or its airspace for the war.
“Ceasefires are always good news. Especially if they lead to a just and lasting peace. But this momentary relief cannot make us forget the chaos, the destruction, and the lives lost,” Mr. Sanchez posted on X. “The Government of Spain will not applaud those who set the world on fire just because they show up with a bucket.”
Mr. Trump agreed late Tuesday to hold off on his apocalyptic promise to order the death of “a whole civilization” after Iran agreed to open the Strait of Hormuz as part of a Pakistan-brokered temporary ceasefire of the conflict between Washington and Tehran.
Beyond Spain, European leaders focused on sustaining the peace.
“I welcome the ceasefire agreement reached overnight, which will bring a moment of relief to the region and the world,” British Prime Minister Keir Starmer posted on social media. “Together with our partners we must do all we can to support and sustain this ceasefire, turn it into a lasting agreement and re-open the Strait of Hormuz.”
Kaja Kallas, who guides foreign policy for the European Union, hailed the deal as a “step back from the brink after weeks of escalation.”
“It creates a much-needed chance to tone down threats, stop missiles, restart shipping, and create space for diplomacy towards a lasting agreement. The Strait of Hormuz must be open for passage again,” she posted.
Ms. Kallas said she spoke to Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar to thank him for his mediation efforts and she planned to address the situation in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday.
“The door to mediation must remain open, as the underlying causes of the war remain unresolved,” she said. “The EU stands ready to support those efforts and is in touch with partners in the region.”
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.
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