Sánchez to Trump: Spain won’t ‘applaud those who set the world on fire just because they then show up with a bucket’

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on Wednesday joined a chorus of world leaders welcoming the announcement of a U.S.-Iran ceasefire but issued a thinly veiled swipe at the Trump administration for having initiated the hostilities. "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," Sánchez said in a social media post, according to a translation. "The Government of Spain will not applaud those who set the world on fire just because they show up with a bucket." Sánchez, who has emerged as one of the European Union's leading critics of U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran, called for "diplomacy, international law and PEACE" to prevail. His comments come shortly after the U.S. president said he had agreed to suspend attacks on Iranian infrastructure for two weeks, sparking a broad-based relief rally across risk assets. Trump had earlier threatened that "a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again" if no deal was struck by his Tuesday deadline. Iranian officials said the temporary truce meant safe passage through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz would be "possible," subject to coordination with its armed forces and "technical limitations" — caveats that may give Tehran some room to define compliance on its own terms. World leaders welcomed the ceasefire, although analysts characterized the agreement as fragile and warned that a substantial lack of trust on both sides will likely complicate the path to lasting peace. Read more A fragile U.S.-Iran ceasefire sparks market relief — but no clear path to lasting peace Spain rejects White House claim it agreed to cooperate with U.S. forces amid Iran war 'No to war’: Spain PM hits back at Trump threat to cut trade over air base dispute Sánchez has repeatedly raised the ire of the White House since the U.S. and Israel first launched strikes against Iran on Feb. 2...