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LAST UPDATE | 11 mins ago
MINISTER FOR FOREIGN Affairs and Defence Helen McEntee said she is “deeply concerned” at the US and Israeli attack on Iran today.
US President Donald Trump and Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu separately confirmed they had begun strikes on Iran this morning. Plumes of smoke have been seen over the country and in Doha, the Qatari capital.
Iran’s foreign ministry vowed to “respond decisively”.
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) said in a statement that the US and Israeli militaries had conducted “close and joint planning” in the months preceding the strike.
Describing any further conflict as “profoundly unhelpful”, McEntee issued a call on all sides to de-escalate.
“We had hoped that it would be possible to reach a diplomatic agreement to resolve international concerns about Iran’s nuclear programme. Ireland was a strong supporter of the JCPOA and of subsequent dialogue and diplomacy for this very reason,” she said, adding that she was urging all parties to return to negotiations.
“We hope also that other States in the region will exercise restraint – a wider conflict will increase regional instability.”
There are a small number of Irish citizens in Iran, most of whom have been resident in the country for many years, the Minister said. Irish embassies in the region are “actively engaged to support Irish citizens who are affected”.
“Our travel advice remains that Irish citizens should not undertake travel to Iran. We also advise against travel to Israel.
“Our advice at this time to citizens in the region is to shelter in place. You should follow the directions of the local authorities and advice issued on social media by the Irish Embassy to your country of residence.”
McEntee said she will remain in close contact with EU and international partners as the situation continues to evolve.
Numerous airlines cancelled their flights to the Middle East and grounded flights in the region in the wake of the US and Israel’s strikes on Iran.
Airlines including Air France, Lufthansa, British Airways, Turkish Airlines, SWISS, and Air India announced they would be suspending flights to areas in the Middle East.
Dublin Airport said there is a potential for flights to and from the Middle East to be disrupted today given the constraints with airspace in the region.
Iran, Iraq, Israel, Syria, Kuwait and the UAE all announced at least partial closures of their skies in the hours after smoke began rising over Tehran and Iran began retaliatory attacks in the region.
The Irish embassy in Saudi Arabia, which also covers Bahrain, Oman, and Yemen, urged Irish citizens in Bahrain to shelter in place and avoid unnecessary movement “given the deterioration of the security situation in Bahrain”.
In light of the current security situation, Irish citizens are advised that they should not travel to the Gulf Region until further notice.
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“Irish citizens are also advised to avoid military and security force installations,” the embassy said on social media.
Irish citizens have been warned by the embassy not to travel to the Gulf region until further notice “in light of the current security situation”.
The UK has warned its citizens in Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and the UAE to take shelter. Iranian missile attacks have been reported at US military bases in the four countries.
The EU said it was withdrawing non-essential personnel from the Middle East, describing developments across the region as “perilous”.
“The latest developments across the Middle East are perilous. Iran’s regime has killed thousands. Its ballistic missile and nuclear programmes, along with support for terror groups, pose a serious threat to global security,” the EU’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, wrote on social media.
“Protection of civilians and international humanitarian law is a priority. Our consular network is fully engaged in facilitating departures for EU citizens. Non-essential EU personnel are being withdrawn from the region.”
Irish MEP Barry Andrews and Labour’s foreign affairs spokesperson Duncan Smith condemned the attack on Iran.
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