Irish leaders stress ‘urgent' need for de-escalation after US strikes on Iran
There is an 'urgent' need for de-escalation and diplomacy in the Middle East, Ireland's leaders have said.
Premier Micheal Martin and deputy premier Simon Harris said a negotiated solution is needed following the US strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities.
They said they are in close contact with European counterparts ahead of a meeting of EU foreign leaders on Monday and of EU leaders later in the week.
'Diplomacy and dialogue is ultimately the only way to resolve these issues,' Mr Martin said.
'Iran should commit not to develop nuclear weapons and disavow its nuclear and uranium enrichment programme.
'Nuclear safety is an issue here, modern warfare is very destructive. It is civilians who ultimately suffer, and that is why we need an end to these wars and bring an end to conflict.'
There is an urgent need for de-escalation, dialogue & diplomacy in the Middle East.
Iran should unequivocally disavow the development of nuclear weapons.
A negotiated solution is the way forward. We remain in close contact with international partners ahead of the EU Council.
— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) June 22, 2025
Mr Martin said the escalation on Sunday should not draw attention away from the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.
'We shouldn't lose sight of the catastrophe that is still unfolding in Gaza while the war between Iran and Israel continues,' he said. 'What is happening in Gaza is appalling and a breach of international humanitarian law, and again, innocent civilians and children are being starved there, and we need that to come to an end.'
Mr Harris said a 'dangerous' escalation between Iran and Israel is now more likely than ever before.
He said staff from the Irish embassy in Tehran left the country on Friday, and he is being updated on Irish peacekeepers stationed in Lebanon.
'I am closely monitoring the situation in the Middle East following military action by the United States on three nuclear facilities in Iran overnight,' Mr Harris said.
'The risk of an extremely dangerous spiral of escalation in relation to Iran and Israel is now more real and more likely than ever before.
'There is an urgent need for de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy. This has been the focus of my engagement with EU partners and countries in the region since this current crisis began. It will remain Ireland's priority in the hours and days ahead.'
Mr Harris said Ireland and Europe are 'fully united in the clear view' that Iran should not be allowed to possess nuclear weapons.
'The way to address this was always through a negotiated solution. Any alternative to that is simply too dangerous for civilians, for the Middle East region and for global security.'
He said the International Atomic Energy Agency's statement on Sunday is 'a stark reminder of these dangers'.
He added: 'While there is no initial reporting of any increase in off-site radiation levels as a result of overnight developments, it is a warning as to how easily that could change should further escalation occur, and the disaster that could pose.
'Together with my EU counterparts, we will in the coming hours and days discuss and review the latest developments and consider the next steps Europe can usefully play to support de-escalation.'
Minister for Culture Patrick O'Donovan said people woke up on Sunday 'terrified, really, to be quite honest, about the prospect of what's unfolding'.
He told RTE's The Week in Politics it is 'terrifying' for citizens in Iran and Israel.
'It does take great people to make leaps of faith in particular places in time to come forward, whether it was in relation to (Anwar el-Sadat) in Egypt, and later on in relation to Bill Clinton and what he did, we do now require people to actually get people around the table,' he said.
'Because ultimately, as the Taoiseach said, this is terrifying, not only for the innocent communities that are living in both countries, but as well as that for the neighbouring countries in the Middle East, who we obviously all hope are not drawn into a much bigger conflict.'
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ITV News
an hour ago
- ITV News
How does America's Iran strike affect UK security?
What have we learned of material relevance to the UK's security from Trump's bombing of Iran's uranium enrichment sites? First, Trump does not need European support for offensives of global significance. This is a military version of the American unilateralism he manifested with his tariffs. It feels a lifetime away from the courtship between Bush and Blair more than 20 years ago that preceded the invasion of there is a conspicuous limit to how much sensitive information the American president will share even with a leader such as Keir Starmer, whom Trump says he likes. Note that on Tuesday the prime minister was at pains to try to persuade me that none of Trump's public statements were suggestive of an imminent US strike on Iran. I was sceptical and the PM insisted I was quite wrong. Starmer's denials make sense only if Trump did not confide in him and - possibly - misled Starmer and all European leaders will know that the corollary of the US as the supreme military superpower acting unilaterally is that European countries are under even more pressure to invest more in their/our own defences, because if Trump does not need us, he will feel even less obliged to help us. This week's NATO leaders meeting will now be even more about accelerating a rapid increase in European spending on defence than it would anyway have it is conspicuous that Starmer has not endorsed the American strike on three nuclear sites. Trump will have noticed. It is however unclear whether this will introduce tension into the relationship between Downing St and the UK intelligence experts continue to believe that it is impossible to eradicate the nuclear threat from Iran using only missile and air attacks, no matter how devastating the bombs that are deployed. This is why Starmer and foreign secretary David Lammy continue to hope Iran will come to the negotiating table. Sixth, this is a super high risk moment for the stability of the Middle East. But those who know the Iranian regime well tell me they believe the likeliest outcome is neither a major escalation of the conflict into a wider regional war or a peace breakthrough. They expect a tawdry muddling through that saves the face of the Tehran regime. Which means the pernicious tit-for-tat attacks between Iran and Israel would continue - till the next crisis. PS The UK and European position is that a sustainable end to Iran's conflict with Israel requires a ceasefire in Gaza and meaningful progress towards the creation of a peaceful Palestinian state. But European leaders shed no light on how this can possibly happen, given that Trump is so supportive of the belligerence of prime minister Netanyahu and his government.
North Wales Chronicle
2 hours ago
- North Wales Chronicle
US strikes on Iran an ‘extraordinarily dangerous escalation'
Simon Harris, who is also Ireland's deputy premier, said an escalation in the 'tinderbox' region was more likely than ever and that the international community were at risk of 'losing all control' of the conflict. Irish premier Micheal Martin and Mr Harris both called for an 'urgent' de-escalation and a negotiated solution on Iran's nuclear facilities. They said they are in close contact with their European counterparts before a meeting of EU foreign leaders on Monday and of EU leaders later in the week. 'Diplomacy and dialogue is ultimately the only way to resolve these issues,' Mr Martin said. 'Iran should commit not to develop nuclear weapons and disavow its nuclear and uranium enrichment programme. 'Nuclear safety is an issue here, modern warfare is very destructive. It is civilians who ultimately suffer, and that is why we need an end to these wars and bring an end to conflict.' There is an urgent need for de-escalation, dialogue & diplomacy in the Middle East. Iran should unequivocally disavow the development of nuclear weapons. A negotiated solution is the way forward. We remain in close contact with international partners ahead of the EU Council. — Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) June 22, 2025 Mr Martin said the escalation on Sunday should not draw attention away from the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. 'We shouldn't lose sight of the catastrophe that is still unfolding in Gaza while the war between Iran and Israel continues,' he said. 'What is happening in Gaza is appalling and a breach of international humanitarian law, and again, innocent civilians and children are being starved there, and we need that to come to an end.' Staff from Ireland's embassy in Tehran left the country on Friday as the embassy was closed, and updates are being provided on over 300 Irish peacekeepers stationed in Lebanon. Mr Harris said there were no plans to withdraw Irish troops and that 'decisions are being made constantly' to ensure their safety. When asked whether he supported Donald Trump's strikes on Iran, Mr Harris said: 'I think it's resulted in an extraordinarily dangerous escalation of a conflict that already best be described as a tinderbox. 'We're now entering a moment of particular danger, because I think the chances now of a spiral of escalation are more likely than ever before, and there is a real prospect now of the international community losing all control of this very, very volatile conflict.' He said there was only a 'very small' number of Irish citizens, many dual nationals, seeking an evacuation, and they were working with European counterparts. He said a significant update on this would be available in the hours ahead. 'Thank god we woke this morning to the International Atomic Energy Agency saying they haven't detected any increase in radiation,' he told RTE Radio. 'But imagine if we were waking up this morning to a situation where radiation levels were extraordinarily high, and the health and human danger that that would have presented far beyond Iran as well. So this is an extraordinarily dangerous time.' He said that it was 'sadly true' that international legal norms are not being adhered to, citing the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Israel's 'genocidal activity' in Palestine and now the Iran-Israel conflict. He said there was a diplomatic process in train and his understanding from readouts was 'there was a commitment from the Iranian side to further talks'. Mr Harris said Ireland and Europe are 'fully united in the clear view' that Iran should not be allowed to possess nuclear weapons. 'The way to address this was always through a negotiated solution. Any alternative to that is simply too dangerous for civilians, for the Middle East region and for global security. 'Together with my EU counterparts, we will in the coming hours and days discuss and review the latest developments and consider the next steps Europe can usefully play to support de-escalation.' Minister for Culture Patrick O'Donovan said people woke up on Sunday 'terrified, really, to be quite honest, about the prospect of what's unfolding'. He told RTE's The Week In Politics it is 'terrifying' for citizens in Iran and Israel. 'It does take great people to make leaps of faith in particular places in time to come forward, whether it was in relation to (Anwar el-Sadat) in Egypt, and later on in relation to Bill Clinton and what he did, we do now require people to actually get people around the table,' he said. 'Because ultimately, as the Taoiseach said, this is terrifying, not only for the innocent communities that are living in both countries, but as well as that for the neighbouring countries in the Middle East, who we obviously all hope are not drawn into a much bigger conflict.'
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US strikes on Iran an ‘extraordinarily dangerous escalation'
Simon Harris, who is also Ireland's deputy premier, said an escalation in the 'tinderbox' region was more likely than ever and that the international community were at risk of 'losing all control' of the conflict. Irish premier Micheal Martin and Mr Harris both called for an 'urgent' de-escalation and a negotiated solution on Iran's nuclear facilities. They said they are in close contact with their European counterparts before a meeting of EU foreign leaders on Monday and of EU leaders later in the week. 'Diplomacy and dialogue is ultimately the only way to resolve these issues,' Mr Martin said. 'Iran should commit not to develop nuclear weapons and disavow its nuclear and uranium enrichment programme. 'Nuclear safety is an issue here, modern warfare is very destructive. It is civilians who ultimately suffer, and that is why we need an end to these wars and bring an end to conflict.' There is an urgent need for de-escalation, dialogue & diplomacy in the Middle East. Iran should unequivocally disavow the development of nuclear weapons. A negotiated solution is the way forward. We remain in close contact with international partners ahead of the EU Council. — Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) June 22, 2025 Mr Martin said the escalation on Sunday should not draw attention away from the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. 'We shouldn't lose sight of the catastrophe that is still unfolding in Gaza while the war between Iran and Israel continues,' he said. 'What is happening in Gaza is appalling and a breach of international humanitarian law, and again, innocent civilians and children are being starved there, and we need that to come to an end.' Staff from Ireland's embassy in Tehran left the country on Friday as the embassy was closed, and updates are being provided on over 300 Irish peacekeepers stationed in Lebanon. Mr Harris said there were no plans to withdraw Irish troops and that 'decisions are being made constantly' to ensure their safety. When asked whether he supported Donald Trump's strikes on Iran, Mr Harris said: 'I think it's resulted in an extraordinarily dangerous escalation of a conflict that already best be described as a tinderbox. 'We're now entering a moment of particular danger, because I think the chances now of a spiral of escalation are more likely than ever before, and there is a real prospect now of the international community losing all control of this very, very volatile conflict.' He said there was only a 'very small' number of Irish citizens, many dual nationals, seeking an evacuation, and they were working with European counterparts. He said a significant update on this would be available in the hours ahead. 'Thank god we woke this morning to the International Atomic Energy Agency saying they haven't detected any increase in radiation,' he told RTE Radio. 'But imagine if we were waking up this morning to a situation where radiation levels were extraordinarily high, and the health and human danger that that would have presented far beyond Iran as well. So this is an extraordinarily dangerous time.' He said that it was 'sadly true' that international legal norms are not being adhered to, citing the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Israel's 'genocidal activity' in Palestine and now the Iran-Israel conflict. He said there was a diplomatic process in train and his understanding from readouts was 'there was a commitment from the Iranian side to further talks'. Mr Harris said Ireland and Europe are 'fully united in the clear view' that Iran should not be allowed to possess nuclear weapons. 'The way to address this was always through a negotiated solution. Any alternative to that is simply too dangerous for civilians, for the Middle East region and for global security. 'Together with my EU counterparts, we will in the coming hours and days discuss and review the latest developments and consider the next steps Europe can usefully play to support de-escalation.' Minister for Culture Patrick O'Donovan said people woke up on Sunday 'terrified, really, to be quite honest, about the prospect of what's unfolding'. He told RTE's The Week In Politics it is 'terrifying' for citizens in Iran and Israel. 'It does take great people to make leaps of faith in particular places in time to come forward, whether it was in relation to (Anwar el-Sadat) in Egypt, and later on in relation to Bill Clinton and what he did, we do now require people to actually get people around the table,' he said. 'Because ultimately, as the Taoiseach said, this is terrifying, not only for the innocent communities that are living in both countries, but as well as that for the neighbouring countries in the Middle East, who we obviously all hope are not drawn into a much bigger conflict.'
