Isabel Díaz Ayuso, president of Spain's Community of Madrid, sharply criticized left-wing politicians yesterday for their opposition to U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, accusing them of naively defending a repressive regime.

During a plenary session in the Madrid Assembly on March 5, Ayuso responded to PSOE spokesperson Mar Espinar and Más Madrid leader Manuela Bergerot, who wore 'No a la guerra' stickers and defended Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's refusal to allow U.S. use of Spanish bases like Rota and Morón for operations against Iran. Ayuso said, "I encourage you to go alone and drunk through Tehran, or with a miniskirt to Kabul. Go ahead and take your gay friends, to see when they hang them from cranes, because that's how they treat homosexuality and women in those countries."

The exchange highlighted deepening domestic divisions over Spain's foreign policy amid escalating Middle East tensions. Sánchez's government has condemned the recent U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran as 'illegal' and 'reckless,' positioning Spain as a vocal critic in Europe and defying threats from U.S. President Donald Trump to cut trade ties. European Socialists have backed Sánchez's stance, emphasizing international law and peace.

Ayuso, aligning with Washington, argued that Sánchez's position makes Spain unreliable internationally and leaves its borders vulnerable. She claimed, "If it were up to the PSOE, the regime of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei would keep arming itself nuclearly forever," and labeled the prime minister a "rebellious teenage leader."

Espinar countered that Sánchez condemns totalitarian regimes while prioritizing legality and Spanish interests, accusing Ayuso's right of kneeling before the powerful and echoing Trump. Bergerot warned that the offensive would bring chaos and criticized Ayuso for scolding women who enjoy nightlife.

The debate echoed Spain's historical 'No to war' movement from the 2003 Iraq invasion, with leftists framing their position as patriotic support for dialogue. Ayuso maintained, "Of course, no to war, and may it end as soon as possible, but also no to the Spanish civil war that the PSOE fuels every day."

Spain's opposition to the strikes reflects its broader criticism of U.S. and Israeli actions in the region, including Gaza, setting it apart from many EU partners. The row in Madrid underscores how the Iran conflict, which intensified last week with bombings, has spilled into national politics.