Ireland's Taoiseach and Tánaiste have responded today, Friday, June 13, after Israel launched attacks on Iran overnight.
In a video message, Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel had launched "Operation Rising Lion, a targeted military operation to roll back the Iranian threat to Israel's very survival."
"This operation will continue for as many days as it takes," Netanyahu said.
"To remove this threat, we struck at the heart of Iran's nuclear enrichment program. We struck at the heart of Iran's nuclear weaponization program. We targeted Iran's main enrichment facility in Natanz. We targeted Iran's leading nuclear scientists, working on the uranium bomb. We also struck at the heart of Iran's ballistic missile program."
The attack came just hours after Iran was censured by the UN's atomic watchdog agency on Thursday for, according to the Associated Press, failing to comply with nonproliferation obligations meant to prevent it from developing a nuclear weapon.
Responding to Israel's attacks, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Israel "should anticipate a severe punishment," while Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described the attack as a "declaration of war."
The Israel Defence Forces said on Friday that Iran has launched over 100 drones toward Israeli territory in retaliation.
"I am deeply concerned by the airstrikes on Iran," Ireland's Taoiseach Micheál Martin said in a statement on Friday morning.
"I call on all in the Middle East to exercise the utmost restraint and to avoid further escalation.
"The region and the world need stability.
"Diplomacy must be the only way forward."
Statement by Taoiseach Micheál Martin on the airstrikes on Iran. pic.twitter.com/ComJyEaYZF
— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) June 13, 2025
In a separate statement, Ireland's Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence Simon Harris said: "I am deeply concerned about the reports of extensive military airstrikes by Israel on Iran overnight.
"The Middle East desperately needs peace and stability.
"Further escalation would bring a very real risk of regional spillover. This would be disastrous for all the peoples of the region.
"I urge restraint and de-escalation by all involved, and for those with influence to use it positively at this critical moment. A negotiated solution is needed to address Iran’s nuclear programme.
"My officials are in touch with our Embassy in Tehran regarding the safety of the small Irish community in Iran and we are in close contact with our EU partners."
My statement on reports of extensive military airstrikes by Israel on Iran overnight. ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/vSYQmfzY8o
— Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) June 13, 2025
Speaking with RTÉ News at One on Friday, Harris said the situation was "extraordinarily dangerous, in fact, it could not be more serious."
He said: "The Irish position, and indeed the position of the European Union, is to call on people to step back from the brink here.
"We need to see an immediate de-escalation."
Harris said he accepted that there are "very serious security issues" in the region, but that the "way you address these is through a negotiated way forward. He added: "There were negotiation structures already in place with, indeed, more to take place in the coming days."
Harris said Ireland has a "diplomatic presence" in Iran and a "small number of diplomats" there. He said there are around 17 "long-term residents" in Iran who are Irish citizens.
Harris noted that on Friday, Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs updated its travel advice for Israel and the Occupied Territories to 'do not travel.'
Ireland's DFA already had a 'do not travel' advisory in place for Iran.
We have reviewed our travel advice for Israel, including an update to our security status that now advises Irish citizens against all travel to Israel.
The update be viewed at 👉 https://t.co/bhtpvrCKTP@EmbassyTLV
— DFATravelWise (@dfatravelwise) June 13, 2025
Meanwhile, when asked about a diplomatic cable issued by the US to Ireland discouraging participation in an upcoming United Nations conference on a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine, Harris said: "Ireland will absolutely be attending and participating fully in the two-state conference due to take place in the UN.
"Of course, the United States of America has every right to convey its views in relation foreign policy, but we also, by the way, have every right to have our own foreign policy.
"And what's happening at the moment in Gaza is genocide. Children are being left to starve.
"A two-state solution is further away than it ever has been, and now is actually the time not for diplomatic cables, but for leadership. For leadership to make sure the starving children can get the food, much of which is parked in Jordan, and to help bring about an end to the horrific genocidal activity.
"I know that is the very, very strong view of the Irish people. It is the very strong of the Irish Government. We have every right to convey our foreign policy position.
"I think the United States is well aware of our position, which I must say is now the position of so many countries right across the world."
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