Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has criticised recent U.S. and Israeli military strikes on Iran, warning that the world risks sliding into a broader and destabilising conflict.

In remarks shared by Al Jazeera, Sánchez described the action as an “unprovoked” escalation and said it was carried out without consultation with the wider international community.

“We are rushing headlong into an unprovoked, increasingly unstable and belligerent war,” he said, adding that such a conflict would be unjust for ordinary citizens.

Sánchez argued that opposition to Iran’s leadership does not justify external military intervention outside international legal frameworks. “It is possible to be against a regime and at the same time be against an unjustified and dangerous military intervention that is outside international law,” he said.

He also questioned the legality of the strikes, citing what he described as the absence of authorisation from the U.S. Congress and the United Nations Security Council.

The Spanish leader called for diplomacy and dialogue, urging global powers to prioritise negotiated solutions over armed confrontation. He warned that unilateral actions could further destabilise an already fragile global security environment.

Tensions have intensified across the Middle East following the strikes. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it launched a new wave of missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and U.S. military positions in the region, according to state-affiliated media.

Israel’s military said it detected incoming missiles from Iran and activated its defence systems. Reports of explosions in several cities have heightened fears of a wider regional conflict.

Russia has also condemned the reported airstrikes, accusing Washington and Tel Aviv of escalating tensions while diplomatic efforts were said to be ongoing.