Sir, – Having read Vincent Durac’s excellent article (“Despite renewed strikes and Trump’s bluster, both sides want an end to Iran conflict”, Opinion, July 16th), I wonder how Ireland, which holds the presidency of the Council of the European Union, could help.
Ireland could perhaps help by strongly and publicly promoting diplomacy over military escalation. Rather than suggesting the seeking of a resolution of every issue at once, Ireland could use its role as an honest broker to convene negotiations, encourage dialogue and shape a consensus between Iran and the United States, and even engage in some form of “shuttle diplomacy” between them.
No mean feat considering their respective history with each other, but still achievable at this stage.
An immediate priority would be to clarify the unfortunately ambiguous terms of the ceasefire agreement, particularly around navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, reducing the risk of misunderstandings that could trigger further conflict.
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This is the crux of the current impasse. Iran and the US seem to feel they have agreed to something different. Clarifying this through the good offices of the EU could go a long way towards bringing about peace.
Ireland could then advocate for an independent international mechanism to monitor maritime security and verify compliance with agreed measures, taking much of the heat out of the question of who operates such a mechanism or procedure.
Ireland could also encourage the EU to link economic co-operation, reconstruction funding and trade incentives for Iran to measurable steps towards de-escalation. By focusing negotiations on shared interests – regional stability, secure trade routes, economic recovery and humanitarian concerns – rather than military confrontation, the EU could help create conditions where peace becomes the most beneficial option for all sides.
Finally, Ireland could propose a multiphase approach to peace, beginning with confidence-building measures and technical agreements, allowing Iran and the US to save face – both are proud nations – while gradually building trust for a more comprehensive and lasting settlement.
It is a far from intractable situation, but without diplomatic assistance this conflict could bubble along for years, costing many lives and damaging the global economy. – Yours, etc,
LEO E SHARKEY,
Bratislava,
Slovakia.
