Taoiseach says UN being ‘eroded', calls for world powers to de-escalate Iran-Israel conflict
World powers must use their influence with
Israel
and
Iran
to bring about a return to a rules-based international order where dialogue and diplomacy are used to resolve disputes, the Taoiseach has said.
Speaking to reporters in Cork on Saturday,
Micheál Martin
said Israel's attack on Iran's nuclear programme and Iran's retaliatory missile attack on Tel Aviv are worrying developments that only add to the trauma experienced by civilians across the Middle East,
'It is deeply concerning that we have so much conflict in the Middle East. It is dangerous in terms of its impact on civilian populations in the first instance. We see the horrors of Gaza – Syria is coming out of the embers of a horrible civil war,' he said.
'A war that's been planned for a decade' - why Israel has attacked Iran and what happens next
Listen |
21:11
Mr Martin said Iran should have engaged proactively years ago about its nuclear programme and set about dismantling it. It is important that the West continues its engagement with Iran even though the current situation could 'make that very difficult', he said.
READ MORE
'There has to be a return to a rules-based international order. At the moment, it is receding before our very eyes. It is being eroded; the
United Nations
(UN) is being eroded and that is a matter of deep concern to us,' he said.
'We want to see a peaceful resolution to the conflict. We believe in dialogue, and we believe in diplomacy, so we would say, to the world powers in particular, to use their influence and stop the hostilities to bring about a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of all hostages.'
Mr Martin said a failure to de-escalate the tensions between Israel and Iran would have serious consequences. He said the International Atomic Energy Agency had previouslywarned of the consequences that would arise if Iran did not engage fully with the agency on its nuclear programme.
He said the agency also said the bombing of nuclear installations is hugely concerning.
Mr Martin was speaking to reporters while attending a ceremony at Cork Airport to officially name the main airport artery Rory Gallagher Avenue in honour of the Cork guitarist.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Independent
2 hours ago
- Irish Independent
The Sunday Independent's View: Innocents pay the price for Middle East power games
Micheál Martin and Simon Harris have been among the most acerbic critics of Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing government, but followed other EU leaders in falling short of outright condemnation, settling instead for carefully-worded calls for restraint and dialogue. There could scarcely be a starker illustration of Iran's diplomatic isolation. Irish leaders might not directly support strikes, but nor can they be seen to be batting for the ayatollahs, whose own poisonous ideology has contributed to keeping the region permanently teetering on the brink. Israel's argument has always been that the West faces the same enemies as it does; Israel just happens to be surrounded by them. Being confronted with this uncomfortable realpolitik was always the risk from burning diplomatic bridges with Israel, as the Irish Government has done lately. If it came down to a wider war between Israel and Iran, Western leaders were bound to stand on the side of the former. France has already pledged to defend Israel from Iranian retaliation. To acknowledge as much is not to say Israel was right to target Iran. No one knows how close Iran is — or was, before last week, at least — to developing nuclear capabilities. It has been rumoured to be nudging closer to that goal for many years. However, advanced or not as its nuclear ambitions may be, it is not in the interests of the world that it achieves them. At the same time, Israel's recklessness cannot be accepted as normal either. The problem with such actions is that at some point someone is going to get hurt — innocents usually, who have little to do with the political tensions for which they always pay the price. The best hope is that Iran, having symbolically hit back, quickly climbs down President Trump will be criticised for backing the attack on Iran, even as his own lack of influence with Israeli hardliners is humiliatingly exposed. The truth is that every US president would probably have done the same. If Trump can be taken to task for anything, it is calling for the people of Iran to overthrow the regime that has ruled the country since 1979 (Libya has hardly been a model of stability since the Western-led coalition deposed Colonel Gaddafi). Attempts to topple Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad similarly led in turn to all-out civil war and the emboldening of Islamic State. Another war in the Middle East would undoubtedly lead to millions more fleeing the region in search of a safe haven in Europe, where tensions over mass immigration are already dangerously inflamed. The best hope is that Iran, having symbolically hit back at the wave of attacks by Israel, quickly climbs down. The Iranian people, if the ayatollahs even care about them at this stage, have nothing to gain from war, and less still from widening it to include the US. Tehran is already weak. The reality of power in the region inevitably means defiance invites disaster. Israel has refrained from attacking Iran's oil refineries, which would plunge the country's fragile economy into crisis. They may not hold off for long if the tit-for-tat of missiles escalates. The world can only pray that Mr Trump was telling the truth when he promised US voters in November that the era of America getting involved in foreign wars had come to an end.
RTÉ News
4 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Iran launches more missiles as Israel targets Tehran
Iran launched a new wave of missiles at Israel, wounding several people in residential buildings, while Israel said it was striking Iranian targets. The fresh attacks came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to hit "every target of the ayatollah regime", and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian warned further strikes would draw "a more severe and powerful response". As calls for de-escalation grew, a new round of nuclear talks between the United States and Iran were cancelled, with Iran saying it could not negotiate while under attack from Israel. Israel's operation, which began early Friday, has targeted Iran's air defences and hit key nuclear and military sites, killing dozens of people including top army commanders and atomic scientists, according to Iranian officials. Israel said it was simultaneously working to intercept a new salvo of missiles fired from Iran, while also carrying out strikes on "military targets in Tehran". Iranian news agency Tasnim reported that an Israeli strike had targeted the country's defence ministry headquarters in Tehran and damaged one of its buildings. The ministry did not comment. Iran, meanwhile, announced a "new wave" of attacks targeting Israel. Israel's emergency services said an Iranian missile hit a home in the Haifa region, leaving 14 people injured, including one in critical condition. Israeli strikes meanwhile hit two fuel depots in Tehran, the Iranian oil ministry said. According to the oil ministry, the oil depots at Shahran northwest of Tehran and another reservoir south of the city were hit. 'Every site, every target' Iran's UN ambassador said 78 people were killed and 320 wounded in Friday's first wave of Israeli strikes. Israel said three people were killed and 76 wounded by Iran's drone and missile barrage the night before. Mr Netanyahu has vowed to keep up Israel's campaign. "We will hit every site, every target of the ayatollah regime," he said in a video statement, threatening greater action "in the coming days". The Israeli leader added that their campaign had dealt a "real blow" to Iran's nuclear programme and maintained it had the "clear support" of US President Donald Trump. Mr Trump said he and Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed in a phone call that the conflict between Iran and Israel "should end". Mr Pezeshkian said meanwhile that "the continuation of the Zionist aggression will be met with a more severe and powerful response from the Iranian armed forces". According to a statement from his office, Mr Pezeshkian also condemned the US for their "dishonesty" for supporting Israel while engaged in nuclear talks with Iran. Western governments have repeatedly accused Iran of seeking a nuclear weapon, which it denies. Iran's top nuclear negotiator, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, said the Israeli attacks undermined negotiations and were pushing the region into a "dangerous cycle of violence". Foreign concern After decades of enmity and conflict by proxy, it is the first time the arch-enemies have traded fire with such intensity, triggering fears of a prolonged conflict that could engulf the Middle East. Highlighting the unease, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned against a "devastating war" with regional consequences, in a call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkey said. Israeli strikes have hit Iran's Natanz uranium enrichment plant and killed its highest-ranking military officer, Mohammad Bagheri, as well as the head of the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Hossein Salami. The Israeli military said its strikes had killed more than 20 Iranian commanders. Iranian media reported five Guards killed in Israeli strikes, while authorities in one northwestern province said 30 military personnel had been killed there since Friday. Iran's Red Crescent said an ambulance was hit yesterday in Urmia city, killing two. Iran called on its citizens to unite in the country's defence, while Netanyahu urged them to rise up against against the government. Iran's Mehr news agency said Iran had warned Britain, France and the United States it could retaliate if they came to Israel's defence. 'Everything was shaking' AFP images from the city of Ramat Gan near Tel Aviv showed blown-out buildings, destroyed vehicles and streets strewn with debris after Iran's first wave of attacks. Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they had struck dozens of targets in Israel. One Iranian missile wounded seven Israeli soldiers, the military said. In Tehran, fire and heavy smoke billowed over Mehrabad airport, an AFP journalist said. The Israeli army said it had struck an underground military facility in western Iran's Khorramabad that contained surface-to-surface and cruise missiles. Iranian media also reported a "massive explosion" following an Israeli drone strike on an oil refinery in the southern city of Kangan. The attacks prompted several countries to temporarily ground air traffic, with Jordan again shutting its airspace last night after it had briefly reopened it.
Irish Examiner
7 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Israeli military says latest missiles from Iran incoming as explosions heard
The latest US-Iran talks on Tehran's rapidly advancing nuclear programme will not take place, mediator Oman said on Saturday, as Iran launched another missile barrage a day after Israel's blistering attack on Iranian nuclear and military sites. Both Israel's military and Iran state television announced the latest round of missiles as explosions were heard overhead in parts of Israel, including Tel Aviv. Israel's military quickly noted that it was currently striking 'military targets' in Tehran. Israeli security forces inspect destroyed houses that were struck by a missile fired from Iran, in Rishon Lezion, Israel (Ohad Zwigenberg/AP) Jordan said it has closed its airspace. Israel's ongoing 'widespread strikes' in Tehran and elsewhere have left Iran's surviving leadership with the difficult decision of whether to plunge deeper into conflict with Israel's more powerful forces or seek a diplomatic route. Oman's foreign minister, Badr al-Busaidi, said on social media the sixth round of indirect nuclear talks on Sunday 'will not now take place', adding that 'diplomacy and dialogue remain the only pathway to lasting peace'. Although the talks are off for now, 'we remain committed to talks and hope the Iranians will come to the table soon', said a senior US official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss diplomacy. Israel and Iran signalled more attacks are coming, despite urgent calls from world leaders to deescalate and avoid all-out war. The attack on nuclear sites set a 'dangerous precedent', China's foreign minister said. The region is already on edge as Israel makes a new push to eliminate the Iranian-backed militant group Hamas in Gaza after 20 months of fighting.
