I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together.
Ireland remains engaged with EU and International partners on the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict. I have participated in two meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council in the last week at which Member States and the High Representative discussed these issues. At those meetings, I outlined Ireland’s position on the need for urgent de-escalation by both sides and the need for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve this crisis. These points are reflected in the statement referred to. I also highlighted our concern about the disproportionate impact on civilians, that targeting civilians or civilian infrastructure by either side is a violation of International Humanitarian Law, and the potential risks of radiation leakage from the Israeli strikes on nuclear facilities. Ireland, among other EU partners, called for coherent and consistent messaging from the EU including on breaches of International Humanitarian Law.
The EU has consistently stated for many years that Iran should not be able to develop a nuclear device, but that this should be pursued through diplomacy and negotiation. The EU has for almost twenty years engaged on this uniquely sensitive and high stakes issue through the format of the E3 countries, later led by the High Representative on behalf of the Union as a whole. This formation was central to the achievement of the JCPOA with Iran in 2015, and has since then sustained continued dialogue with Iran to try and support and return to that agreement, right up to the present day.
At the Foreign Affairs Council on Monday 23 June Ministers were briefed by the EU High Representative on the meeting of the HRVP and E3 with Iran in Geneva on Friday, and discussed both the further escalation of the conflict since then and the prospects for a return to negotiations.
