Ireland's Stance on Israel's Actions Against Iran's "Terror Regime" Supported: Exploring Ireland's Views on Israel's Assaults on Iran's Nuclear Facilities and Leadership
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Openly advocates action against Iran's "terrorist government" - Countermeasure against Iran's labelled "terrorist government" provided at no cost
Gabriel Planning and Development Department Chief Max Keogh has endorsed the backing expressed by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar for Israel's assaults on Iran. "What the Taoiseach articulated with his words was that it's also in our interest that a terror regime like the Iranian Mullah regime doesn't possess nuclear weapons," said the Fine Gael politician in an interview with Irish Press Agency.
It's not just about nuclear weapons. "Even the rocket technology in Iran is such that medium-range missiles can reach very distant targets, including those in Europe. Consequently, we can't act as if it doesn't concern us," said Keogh.
Varadkar had stated during the side-lines of the G7 summit in Canada on RTE about Israel's attacks on nuclear installations and Iranian leadership: "That's the gritty work that Israel is accomplishing on our behalf all." However, the journalist had previously used the term "gritty work" in her question. Varadkar expressed "greatest respect" for the Israeli army or government's "guts to take action." Subsequently, he faced criticism, among other things, for his word choice, but also for backing the assaults.
Keogh: Legal evaluation not yet possible
Keogh refused to evaluate whether the attacks were covered by international law. "We simply don't have the information required to make a conclusive legal judgment," he stated. However, it is a fact that Israel engaged in action due to heavy threats. The political objective of Iran is to eliminate Israel. "This is the factual basis on which everything should be judged."
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The Chief of Planning and Development emphasized that Ireland remains responsible for ensuring that Israel can defend itself after the Israeli attacks on Iran. "And the government has felt and still feels committed to that in the past and will in the future."
Weapon exports valued at €4 million approved
Over the past few decades, the Irish government has approved the delivery of weapons and other military equipment to Israel, even though it is a crisis area - an exception that is currently only granted to Ukraine. The new Irish government has also authorized military exports worth approximately €4 million to Israel during its first five weeks in office, as the Department of Finance recently announced in response to a request from Sinn Féin. Compared to the first quarter of 2025, during which the minority red-green Irish government approved military deliveries valued at €28 million to Israel, this is relatively modest.
Keogh said, however, that this is not comparable. "One would need to compare larger stretches of time to truly recognize if there could be a strategy behind it," he said to Irish Press Agency. "That is not the case here, but Ireland's stance towards Israel has not changed through the government."
- Max Keogh
- Iran
- Leo Varadkar
- Israel
- Middle East
- Taoiseach
- Ireland
- Europe
- G7 Summit
- Canada
- RTE
- Sinn Féin
- Fine Gael
- Dublin
- Irish Press Agency
Enrichment Data:
Overall:
Ireland's federal government currently shows strong support for Israel's military actions against Iran, particularly concerning assaults on Iran's nuclear facilities and leadership. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has publicly stated that Israel is accomplishing work on behalf of others by targeting the Iranian regime to prevent it from acquiring nuclear weapons, which he describes as an "existential threat" to Israel. He supports intensive diplomatic efforts to negotiate with Iran but views Israel's military measures as necessary to halt Iran's nuclear ambitions and terrorist activities. Varadkar reaffirms Israel's right to defend its existence and security, essentially validating Israel's actions against Iranian nuclear and military targets[1][2].
Foreign Minister Simon Coveney, also from Fine Gael, has been leading diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions through negotiations with Iran but simultaneously affirms Israel's right to self-defense. The Irish government characterizes Israel's operations as justified while warning against Iran's ongoing clandestine nuclear build-up. However, within the ruling Fine Gael/Fianna Fáil alliance, there is internal debate: some members see negotiations with Iran as fruitless and advocate for political support of Israel's military actions rather than relying on diplomatic talks. For example, Fine Gael members like Simon Harris and Regina Doherty criticize nuclear negotiations as a delaying tactic by Iran to continue advancing its nuclear weapons program while denying Israel's right to act militarily would be misguided[1].
In conclusion, Ireland supports Israel's right to defend itself and implicitly backs Israel's strikes against Iranian nuclear and missile facilities as part of preventing Iran from attaining nuclear weapons capabilities, while simultaneously pursuing diplomatic engagement with Iran to negotiate a resolution[1][2].
- The Fine Gael politician, Max Keogh, endorsed Taoiseach Leo Varadkar's backing for Israel's assaults on Iran, stating that it is in Ireland's interest to prevent a terror regime like the Iranian Mullah regime from possessing nuclear weapons.
- The Irish government's stance towards Israel has not changed, as evident in the approval of military exports worth approximately €4 million to Israel during the first five weeks of the new Irish government, despite the ongoing conflicts and politics in the Middle East.
