Iranian state-linked media has sparked controversy after sharing footage that appears to show the face of Pedro Sanchez being placed on a missile alongside a message thanking him.

The clip, circulated by outlets aligned with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, shows a sticker with Sanchez’s image and a quote attributed to his comments on the conflict.

‘Of course this war is not only illegal, but also inhuman,’ the message says, followed by the words: ‘Thank you, Prime Minister.’

The footage was presented as part of a wider wave of missile activity targeting US and Israeli positions.

However, it is unclear whether the sticker is actually attached to an operational weapon or simply part of a staged image for propaganda purposes.

The images caused unease within the Spanish government. Officials distanced themselves, describing the video as a propagandistic use of the prime minister’s image that does not reflect Spain’s official position.

Government ministers have sought to play down the incident. Sira Rego called the gesture ‘unfortunate’, while Pablo Bustinduy stressed that Spain’s stance remains unchanged.

‘Spain’s position in this conflict has been clear: to defend common sense and international law. Any attempt to distort that will not go far,’ he said.

Opposition figures have reacted sharply. Ester Muñoz said on social media that ‘missiles intended to kill people carry recognition from the Iranian regime to Pedro Sanchez. There can be no greater dishonour.’

Miguel Tellado added that the prime minister was ‘once again placing himself on the wrong side’.

Criticism has also come from Israel. The country’s foreign minister issued a pointed warning, asking what it feels like to see ‘your face and your words on those missiles’, noting that Europe, including Spain, lies within their range.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog went further, saying that ‘Spain is playing a very strange and incomprehensible game.’

But is it real?

Despite the strong reactions, there is no verified evidence that missiles bearing Sanchez’s image have actually been used or deployed.

The original video shows the sticker being placed on an unidentified surface, before cutting to separate footage of missiles launching. There is no clear link between the two sequences.

Claims circulating online that a missile with Sanchez’s face landed on a school in Israel are also unproven.

Reverse image searches trace those posts back to a YouTube video that makes the claim without evidence, combining a generic image of a missile with a separate image of the sticker, reports Maldita.es – a respected news page dedicated to detecting misinformation.

Verified reports from Israeli media, including coverage of a missile fragment found in a schoolyard in the West Bank settlement of Peduel, make no mention of any such sticker.

Footage published by CNN of the same incident shows no visible image of Sanchez on the missile.

At this stage, the images appear to form part of a broader propaganda effort rather than proof of real-world use.

Spanish authorities have not issued an official response, and enquiries to both the Foreign Ministry and the Iranian Embassy in Madrid had not received a reply at the time of writing.