Senior Iranian officials have congratulated Spain on winning the FIFA World Cup, with several linking the victory to Madrid’s political stance on recent developments in the Middle East. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian wrote on X that “the joy of the people and government of Spain is the joy of the people and government of Iran.” Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf also sent separate congratulatory messages to the speakers of Spain’s Congress of Deputies and Senate, marking the country’s World Cup victory. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei congratulated Spain during his weekly press briefing and praised Madrid’s opposition to recent US and Israeli military actions against Iran. Meanwhile, Iranian Football Federation President Mehdi Taj said the World Cup trophy had been won by “a nation that stood against Israel’s crimes.” Spain’s left-wing government, led by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, has been among Israel’s strongest European critics since the Hamas attacks of 7 October 2023. It has also voiced strong opposition to recent US and Israeli strikes on Iran.
