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Israeli NGO Urges ICC Probe of Spain’s Sánchez Over Alleged Dual-Use Exports to Iran

The filing argues export approvals for components linked to explosives could amount to aiding war crimes.

Overview

  • Shurat HaDin, an Israeli legal NGO, filed an Article 15 complaint at the International Criminal Court seeking a probe of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and other officials, and prosecutors have not announced an investigation.
  • Citing Spain’s trade data, the filing says exports to Iran topped €1.3 million in 2024 and early 2025 for items like detonator parts, lab reagents, and control software, with about $7 million in dual-use approvals since 2018 and roughly $80 million in machinery exports in 2024.
  • The group’s legal claim is that approving dual-use items that can make explosive devices work can count as aiding crimes because Iran and proxies such as Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis rely on such components.
  • As supporting detail, the complaint points to Iranian media that showed missiles with Sánchez’s image and a “thank you” message to argue Tehran sees Spanish policy as helpful.
  • Relations between Israel and Spain have deteriorated since the Gaza war, with Israel dropping Spain from the U.S.-linked Civil-Military Coordination Center and Spain curbing U.S. military use of bases and airspace during tensions with Iran.