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.
— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) June 22, 2025
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.
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.”
