Iran says US has 'blown up' any attempt to end the Israel-Iran conflict diplomatically

IRAN'S FOREIGN MINISTER has said the US decided to 'blow up' diplomacy efforts
with its strikes on Iranian nuclear sites overnight
as world leaders have urged the country to enter negotiations with the US and Israel.
The EU had called for 'all sides to step back' after the US bombed three Iranian nuclear sites overnight. European foreign affairs commissioner Kaja Kallas urged Iran, Israel and the US to return to negotiations and prevent further escalation in the Middle East.
European foreign ministers,
including Tánaiste Simon Harris
, will be discussing the issue tomorrow.
US President Donald Trump
announced 'successful' strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities overnight
, in a shock decision and major escalation in the war between Israel and Iran.
Israel launched its campaign against Iran two weeks ago over claims that the government there were developing nuclear weapons.
'Iran must not be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon, as it would be a threat to international security,' Kallas said this morning, before calling for diplomacy.
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Other international leaders have called for diplomacy to prevail.
Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer urged Iran to return to nuclear dissolvent negotiations with the US this morning. He added that Iran's nuclear programme is a 'grave threat' which the US military action would 'alleviate'.
Responding to the EU and UK on X, Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi, referring to talks with German, French and Italian leaders, said: 'This week, we held talks with the E3/EU when the US decided to blow up that diplomacy. What conclusion would you draw?'
He added: 'To Britain and the EU High Rep, it is Iran which must 'return' to the table. But how can Iran return to something it never left, let alone blew up?'
Earlier, Araghchi condemned the
US attacks on key nuclear sites as 'outrageous' earlier
. He said his country has a right to defend its sovereignty and that the US strikes would have 'ever lasting consequences'.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has also called for a swift return to diplomacy after the US struck three nuclear sites in Iran overnight. He said Iran must 'immediately' enter negotiations with the US and Israel to find a diplomatic solution.
Iran has
launched up to 30 missiles towards Israel this morning
, targeting sites such as the Ben Gurion International Airport and military hubs. Three bombs made impact at residential sites in Israel, it has been reported.
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The Irish Sun

an hour ago

• The Irish Sun

‘Very volatile conflict', says Harris as evacuation of 15 Irish citizens from Israel underway amid US strikes on Iran

EFFORTS are under way to evacuate 15 Irish citizens from Israel, Tanaiste Simon Harris has said. The Foreign Affairs Minister confirmed that an operation was ongoing to evacuate 15 Advertisement 2 US strikes on Iran had made a 'volatile situation even more dangerous' Credit: AFP or licensors 2 Simon Harris confirmed that the evacuation of Irish citizens from Israel is currently underway Credit: � 2025 PA Media, All Rights Reserved He said they were working with a smaller number of citizens in Around 29 Irish citizens in Iran had registered with the Irish embassy and around 200 in Mr Harris said he spoke to Iran's deputy foreign minister on Sunday, at their request, who was 'full of anger'. Talking to the reporters at Government Buildings, he said: 'He did say to me that it was the view of Iran that the aggressors would have to learn lessons and pay a price. Advertisement READ MORE ON ISRAEL-IRAN 'Of course I articulated in the strongest possible terms that Ireland and the Mr Harris said the Taoiseach They said they are in close contact with their European counterparts before a meeting of EU foreign leaders on Monday and of EU leaders later in the week. Advertisement Most read in Irish News Exclusive The 'Iran should commit not to develop nuclear weapons and disavow its nuclear and uranium enrichment programme. The Sun reports from inside as Israel as tensions flare following US air strikes ' BREACH OF INTERNATIONAL LAWS Martin added that the escalation on Sunday should not draw attention away from the Advertisement He said: 'We shouldn't lose sight of the catastrophe that is still unfolding in Gaza while the war between Iran and Israel continues. 'What is happening in Staff from Ireland's embassy in Harris said there were no plans to withdraw Irish troops and that 'decisions are being made constantly' to ensure their safety. Advertisement 'VOLATILE CONFLICT' When asked whether he supported US President 'We're now entering a moment of particular danger, because I think the chances now of a spiral of escalation are more likely than ever before, and there is a real prospect now of the international community losing all control of this very, very volatile conflict.' He said there was only a 'very small' number of Irish citizens, many dual nationals, seeking an evacuation, and they were working with European counterparts. He said a significant update on this would be available in the hours ahead. Advertisement 'EXTRAORDINARILY DANGEROUS TIME' Speaking on 'But imagine if we were waking up this morning to a situation where radiation levels were extraordinarily high, and the health and human danger that that would have presented far beyond Iran as well. So this is an extraordinarily dangerous time.' He said that it was 'sadly true' that international legal norms are not being adhered to, citing the He said there was a diplomatic process in train and his understanding from readouts was 'there was a commitment from the Iranian side to further talks'. Advertisement POSSESSION OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS Harris said 'The way to address this was always through a negotiated solution. Any alternative to that is simply too dangerous for civilians, for the 'Together with my EU counterparts, we will in the coming hours and days discuss and review the latest developments and consider the next steps Europe can usefully play to support de-escalation.' Minister for Culture Patrick O'Donovan said people woke up on Sunday 'terrified, really, to be quite honest, about the prospect of what's unfolding'. Advertisement 'TERRIFYING' He told RTE's The Week In Politics it is 'terrifying' for citizens in Iran and Israel. He said: 'It does take great people to make leaps of faith in particular places in time to come forward, whether it was in relation to (Anwar el-Sadat) in Egypt, and later on in relation to 'Because, ultimately, as the Taoiseach said, this is terrifying – not only for the innocent communities that are living in both countries, but as well as that for the neighbouring countries in the Middle East, who we obviously all hope are not drawn into a much bigger conflict.'

Irish Times

3 hours ago

• Irish Times

Evacuation of 15 Irish citizens from Israel under way, Tánaiste says

An operation is ongoing on Sunday evening to evacuate a group of 15 Irish citizens and their dependents from Israel, Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Harris has confirmed. He also said Irish diplomats were working to assist a small number of Irish citizens from Iran but did not specify the number. Speaking to the media at Government Buildings on Sunday afternoon, Mr Harris said the evacuation operation was being done in partnership with other EU countries. 'There is an evacuation under way of Irish citizens and their dependents, 15 in total. We've been working closely with EU counterparts in relation to that 'I hope to be in a position to issue further details on that shortly,' he said.. READ MORE Mr Harris said the Department of Foreign Affairs had been working with a 'small number of citizens in Iran who have expressed a wish to be evacuated'. He said the challenges in evacuating citizens from both countries was 'not easy'. 'The airspace is closed, and the only way of being evacuated is over the land border, involving long journeys that are not only difficult (to navigate) but also dangerous,' he said. He praised the 'extraordinary work' being done by Irish diplomats in difficult and 'often very dangerous' circumstances. He said consular staff in both countries had a citizens' register and some 200 citizens had registered in Israel and 29 in Iran. Mr Harris also spoke by phone on Sunday afternoon with Iran's deputy foreign minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi about the US bombing of Iran. The call took place following a request from Iran's government. The Tánaiste said he got no indication from the Iranian minister that it would change its stance on refusing to return to negotiations. 'Being very honest, during the call I was met with an Iranian counterpart (who was) full of anger, and talking, in his words, about the aggressor. 'I made the point that he was talking to a representative of a European country that hasn't in any way been an aggressor, and in fact, that the European Union has been consistent in our approach and united in our approach across 27 member states that we need to see de-escalation, diplomacy and dialogue.' He said he did not get any indication as of now that the position of Iran has changed. 'That's not a reason enough to keep engaging the talks shortly,' he added.

Irish Examiner

3 hours ago

• Irish Examiner

15 Irish citizens being evacuated from Israel, Tánaiste says

15 Irish citizens are being evacuated from Israel amid the escalating conflict with Iran, Tánaiste Simon Harris has confirmed. The Government is working to evacuate a number of citizens from Israel and Iran, with approximately 200 based in the former and 29 in the latter. 'Right now there is an evacuation underway of 15 Irish citizens and their dependents, so 15 in total,' Mr Harris said. 'We've been working closely with EU counterparts in relation to that, and I hope to be in a position to issue further details on that shortly.' When the evacuation is complete, Mr Harris said the Government will have dealt with all current evacuation requests for Israel. The Tánaiste confirmed there were a number of citizens in Iran who wished to be evacuated, with work underway to try and get them out of the country. 'It's not easy work as you can imagine, the airspace is closed and the only way of being evacuated is over land border with often long journeys that are not without difficulty and not without danger,' Mr Harris said. The Fine Gael leader said the actions of the US President overnight had 'added a new layer of complexity and volatility to an already very dangerous tinderbox'. He added there is a 'real risk of spillover' in the conflict that could see it escalate into a further regional war. 'There is a real risk, by either a miscalculation or by intent, that already a very dangerous conflict spreads between the two countries involved,' Mr Harris said. Mr Harris also raised concerns about the possibility of oil routes being shut down, which would be a 'further economic worry'. The Tánaiste also confirmed his call with the Iranian deputy foreign minister, Majid Takht-Ravanchi, saying he was 'full of anger' over the attacks by Israel and the US. Mr Harris said Mr Takht-Ravanchi outlined the Iranian position that the US and Israel would need to 'learn lessons and pay a price'. He said the Government would continue to push for negotiations to end the war, adding there was 'no alternative' to diplomacy. It comes ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers on Monday, with discussions set to be dominated by the escalating war between Israel and Iran. Urgent need to 'de-escalate' tensions There is an urgent need to 'de-escalate' tensions in the Middle East after the US carried out strikes against Iran, Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said. Mr Martin called on 'all actors' in the Middle East to de-escalate the situation. "Diplomacy and dialogue is ultimately the only way to resolve these issues. Iran should commit not to develop nuclear weapons and disavow its nuclear and uranium enrichment programme,' Mr Martin said. "Nuclear safety is an issue here. Modern warfare is very destructive. It is civilians who ultimately suffer and that is why we need an end to these wars and an end to conflict.' Speaking to RTÉ, Mr Martin said the world should not forget about 'the catastrophe that is still unfolding in Gaza' while the war between Israel and Iran is ongoing. This satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows damage at the Fordo enrichment facility in Iran after U.S. strikes, Sunday, June 22, 2025. Picture: Maxar Technologies via AP Tánaiste Simon Harris said he was "closely monitoring" the situation in Iran after the overnight strikes by the US. It is understood that Mr Harris has spoken with the Iranian deputy foreign minister, Majid Takht-Ravanchi, after the overnight attacks. The call took place due to a request from Iran's government, with similar calls also taking place between Iranian officials and counterparts in Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Egypt in recent days. Mr Harris was said to have expressed 'grave concern' at the overnight escalation, while adding it was important Iran engaged in formal talks to de-escalate the conflict. "The risk of an extremely dangerous spiral of escalation in relation to Iran and Israel is now more real and more likely than ever before," Mr Harris said. "There is an urgent need for de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy." Mr Harris said: "Europe, including Ireland, is fully united in the clear view that Iran should not be allowed to possess nuclear weapons. "The way to address this was always through a negotiated solution. Any alternative to that is simply too dangerous for civilians, for the Middle East region and for global security." He added that discussions would be taking place among EU foreign ministers in the hours ahead to consider "the next steps Europe can usefully play to support de-escalation". Mr Harris added he is aware of the large contingent of Irish peacekeepers in Southern Lebanon, saying he is receiving regular updates from the chief of staff of the Defence Forces. Mr Harris said the US President's actions have resulted in an 'extraordinarily dangerous escalation of a conflict that could already be described as a tinderbox'. 'I need to be very clear and very blunt. We're now entering a moment of particular danger, because I think the chances now of a spiral of escalation are more likely than ever before,' Mr Harris said, speaking on RTÉ Radio's This Week. 'There is a real chance of the international community losing all control of this very, very volatile conflict.' Asked if international law norms have gone out the window, Mr Harris said it was 'sadly true'. 'The only way this will be resolved and the only way really people can step back from the brink now is through de-escalation, diplomacy and dialogue,' Mr Harris said. On Irish citizens seeking to leave Iran, Mr Harris said it was an 'ongoing situation' but he would have a significant update later on Sunday.