A mother and two children are the three Irish citizens or dependents who have been safely evacuated from Iran after the US joined Israel’s bombing campaign on the country.
It comes after a separate successful evacuation of 15 Irish citizens or dependents from Israel on Sunday.
Ireland’s premier Micheal Martin said that a “complete de-escalation and an ending of the war” is now needed.
“We believe in international rules-based order, and in that sense, we would have preferred dialogue and diplomacy in relation to the nuclear issue in Iran,” he said on Monday.
He also warned that a consequence of the attacks would see the war in Gaza being “sidelined” and “marginalised”.
Ireland’s deputy premier Simon Harris said the US attack was an “extraordinarily dangerous escalation” in an already “volatile” situation in the Middle East.
He is attending a meeting of EU foreign affairs ministers in Brussels, where the growing crisis in the Middle East was high on Monday’s agenda.
I am pleased to confirm that three Irish 🇮🇪 citizens and their dependents have safely departed Iran overnight and are now en route home.
— Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) June 23, 2025
I continue to urge all Irish citizens in Iran to register at https://t.co/NLrmr6DEwy so we can maintain contact with you. pic.twitter.com/GTtLAdY9Lx
In a statement, Mr Harris said those who had left Iran will now “travel home”.
“I want to extend our gratitude to our European friends and partners for their excellent support,” he said.
He added: “Throughout this crisis, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and our embassies have remained in regular contact with Irish citizens in the region.”
Tensions in the Middle East boiled over 11 days ago when Israel launched strikes on Tehran, targeting the country’s nuclear programme.
Israel and Iran have been exchanging strikes with one another since, rekindling fears of a full-scale conflict.
On Saturday the US joined in, sending planes and submarines to attack Fordo, Isfahan and Natanz, areas linked to Iran’s nuclear programme.
Tehran threatened to retaliate, while US President Donald Trump warned of further action if necessary.
Statement by Taoiseach Micheál Martin on Middle East pic.twitter.com/IbJAQmnsKn
— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) June 22, 2025
Speaking to reporters in Brussels, Mr Harris said there was a real risk of the crisis in Iran and Israel “spilling over and broadening”, as he reiterated a call for Europe to play a role in de-escalation, diplomacy and dialogue.
He said there are international laws in place against strikes on nuclear sites as he described the “unhelpful intervention” of the US as adding “a significant level of danger to an already volatile situation”.
“The only way, I believe, to make progress in relation to stopping an already tinderbox-type situation getting worse, is to get back to a negotiated situation.”
Mr Martin said he wants to see the EU-Israel Association Agreement suspended.
“To achieve that (that) would require unanimity, so we certainly will be looking for actions in the context of that agreement, elements of it could be suspended,” he added.
“It simply isn’t acceptable that the human rights clauses of that agreement would be so clearly broken.
“International humanitarian law has been breached by Israel in the conduct of its war in Gaza, particularly in terms of the blockade and the prevention of any humanitarian aid going in.
“There should be consequences in the context of the Israeli-European Union Association Agreement. We will certainly be working with other like-minded countries at the European Union to see can we bring that about.”
Mr Harris said he would also be calling for “swift and concrete actions” in response to the EU’s review of the EU-Israel Association Agreement.
“It is clear from that review that Israel is in breach of its human rights obligations under Article Two.
“And it’s not good enough just to say somebody’s in breach, and it’s a consequence-free zone.
“If a review finds a breach, consequences must flow from that.”
Mr Harris said the Irish position was that agreement should be immediately suspended but added that there would not be consensus across the bloc on that.
“So what we have to do is work on what can be achieved here.”
We will have a Security College on Wednesday, focused on the escalating situation in the Middle East and its effects on Europe.
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) June 22, 2025
EU ministers are expected to discuss the latest developments, the situation in Gaza and the West Bank, and the review of Israel’s compliance with Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement.
Among the other topics to be discussed are the Russian invasion of Ukraine, EU engagement with China, and Georgia.
Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha will also attend the summit and provide an update.
The discussion on China is expected to prepare for the upcoming EU-China Strategic Dialogue and EU-China Summit.
Domestically, Mr Harris said he would be bringing the general scheme of a Bill restricting trade of goods with the Occupied Palestinian Territories to Cabinet on Tuesday.
Amid criticism of the scope of the legislation, he said he remained “very open” to including restrictions on services also but added that he needed to get legal clarity on whether that was possible.
