President Catherine Connolly has said “all possible steps must be taken to avoid a further escalation” in the Middle East following military strikes.
It follows US and Israeli forces’ missile strikes on Iran on Saturday morning in what the two countries described as a “pre-emptive” strike against a Tehran government intent on developing nuclear weapons. The attack prompted retaliation from Iran, with missiles reported to have targeted Israel and countries across the Middle East.
US president Donald Trump has appeared to back up the Israeli reports that Iran’s supreme leader was killed in airstrikes. However, there is no official confirmation.
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence Helen McEntee said Irish citizens should not undertake travel to Iran, while also advising against travel to Israel.
READ MORE
She said there are a small number of Irish citizens in Iran, most of whom have been resident in the country for many years.
Connolly earlier called on all sides to immediately return to diplomacy and negotiation in line with the principles of international law and the UN Charter.
“I welcome the support of Irish embassies and missions in the region who are working to support Irish citizens at a time when their safety and welfare will be of immediate concern to all those with friends and family living in the region,” she said.
Connolly also said the “normalisation of war, including the invasion at will of sovereign states” was a path that “only leads to destruction and loss of life”.
[ Senior Israeli official claims Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei is deadOpens in new window ]
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said he was “deeply concerned” by developments in Iran and the real potential that exists for “escalation and wider conflict in the region”.
In a statement, he strongly urged all parties to exercise restraint and to “work to avoid that outcome”.
“Ireland has always believed that conflict should be resolved through diplomacy and negotiation, in line with the principles of the UN Charter and international law. That must apply in this situation as much as in any other,” he said.
Meanwhile, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald called US and Israeli’s joint action “unprovoked military aggression”, describing it as a “frightening turn of events”.
McDonald called for a cessation of military action.
People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy called for the Taoiseach’s upcoming visit to the White House to be cancelled.
The Dublin South-West TD said: “The United States and Israel have launched a co-ordinated attack on Iran. This is an unprovoked attack that has no justification.”
Meanwhile, many people in Northern Ireland will be apprehensive about the situation in the Middle East, Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly has said.
Little-Pengelly was speaking after receiving a security briefing from a UK government adviser.
She said: “I know that there are many hundreds of people from Northern Ireland who are living and working in the Middle East, particularly in the UAE and of course many others that are visiting the region as well.
“I know that there are a lot of people worried about their loved ones and families at the moment.”
SDLP leader Claire Hanna said she was “deeply concerned” about the situation.
She said: “The UK must urgently push for de-escalation, press for an immediate ceasefire, and work with international partners to prevent a wider war.
“Diplomacy, not further military action, must be the focus.”
Sinn Féin MP Chris Hazzard said the attacks on Iran “do nothing but bring the threat of wider conflict in the Middle East closer”.
He added: “In the midst of ongoing negotiations between the US and Iran, these attacks are outrageous violations of the United Nations Charter and the multilateral system.
“This escalation must be condemned and the attacks should end immediately while a return to negotiations must be a priority.” - Agencies
