Relationship dossier
Iran
Spain
Relationship assessment
Diplomatic engagement and Spanish support for the nuclear agreement, alongside European sanctions and other concerns
Iran toward Spain
+15Iran received Spain’s foreign minister in Tehran in 2015 for bilateral discussions, demonstrating government-level diplomatic engagement.
Spain toward Iran
+15Spain supported the 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran and its implementation through the European Union, while participating in EU measures concerning Iran.
Overall relationship
+5The relationship combines diplomatic engagement with significant constraints. Spain’s support for the nuclear agreement and Iran’s hosting of a Spanish foreign minister visit reflect cooperation, while EU measures concerning Iran’s nuclear program and other concerns limit the broader relationship.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Iran and Spain have engaged in diplomatic dialogue, including a 2015 visit to Tehran by Spain’s foreign minister. Spain supported the 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran and its implementation through the European Union. Relations have also been constrained by EU measures relating to Iran’s nuclear program and other concerns.
Areas of tension
- EU measures concerning Iran’s nuclear program
- European concerns about Iran’s human-rights record
Key developments
Spain’s foreign minister visited Tehran for bilateral discussions.
Spain supported the nuclear agreement with Iran and its implementation through the European Union.
Major uncertainties
- The scope and implementation of bilateral agreements and economic cooperation are unclear.
- The extent of current government-to-government engagement is uncertain.