Irish Foreign Minister Helen McEntee Voices Alarm Over US-Israel Missile Strikes on Iran
Irish Foreign Minister Helen McEntee has declared herself "deeply concerned" following coordinated missile strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran on Saturday morning. The minister also expressed dismay at Iran's subsequent retaliation and issued a firm call for all parties to de-escalate tensions in the volatile Middle East region.
Pre-emptive Strikes and Immediate Retaliation
The military action, described by Washington and Jerusalem as a "pre-emptive" strike, targeted what the two nations claim is a Tehran government intent on advancing its nuclear weapons programme. This aggressive move swiftly prompted a retaliatory response from Iran, with missiles reported to have been launched toward Israel and various locations across the Middle East, significantly heightening regional instability.
McEntee's Diplomatic Appeal and Concerns
In a detailed statement, Minister McEntee emphasised the profound risks of further conflict. "I am deeply concerned that the US and Israel have decided to launch widespread armed conflict against Iran at this time," she stated. "I am equally dismayed at the Iranian response in recent hours. As was made clear to me on my visit to the region last month, further conflict is profoundly unhelpful and presents challenges which only make already deep divisions more dangerous and unstable and put more lives in the region at risk."
The minister highlighted Ireland's consistent diplomatic stance, noting the nation had been a "strong supporter" of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and subsequent dialogue aimed at addressing international concerns over Iran's nuclear ambitions. "We had hoped that it would be possible to reach a diplomatic agreement to resolve international concerns about Iran’s nuclear programme," McEntee remarked, urging all sides to "return to this path of negotiation."
Safety of Irish Citizens and Travel Advisory
Minister McEntee confirmed that a small number of Irish citizens are currently in Iran, most of whom are long-term residents. She acknowledged the understandable concerns of these individuals and their families, assuring that Irish embassies in the region are actively engaged in providing consular support.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has issued updated travel advice, strongly recommending that Irish citizens avoid all travel to Iran and Israel. For those already in the region, the directive is to shelter in place, follow local authority instructions, and monitor social media updates from the relevant Irish embassy.
"Our embassies in the region are closely monitoring the situation and continuing to provide consular assistance," McEntee affirmed. Relatives with concerns are advised to contact the consular team in Dublin at +353 1 4082000.
Call for Restraint and International Coordination
Reiterating her call for de-escalation, the minister urged all involved states to exercise restraint to prevent a wider, more destabilising conflict. "I call on all sides to de-escalate. We hope also that other states in the region will exercise restraint – a wider conflict will increase regional instability," she said.
McEntee concluded by stating she would maintain close contact with European Union and international partners to coordinate responses and seek a peaceful resolution to the escalating crisis, underscoring Ireland's commitment to diplomatic engagement in the face of mounting military actions.
