Helen McEntee warns US against escalating tensions in Iran amid deadly protests

Foreign affairs minister condemns protester killings, urges restraint by all sides and raises concerns over communications blackout

Foreign affairs minister Helen McEntee. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA Wire

The United States should not “escalate” tensions in Iran further through military action, the foreign affairs minister has said.

Helen McEntee has warned against countries taking actions that could further raise tensions in Iran, amid protests that have engulfed the country.

“It is important that we don’t escalate anything in the region… It’s important that any decisions that are taken by any state here that they do not cause further tensions and escalations within the region,” Ms McEntee said.

On Sunday, US president Donald Trump threatened possible military action against Iran over the killing of protesters, while confirming his administration was seeking to engage in talks with Tehran.

Human Rights Activists News Agency has said the death toll from the protests has reached 544, with over 10,600 people being detained over the last fortnight.

Of those killed, 496 were protesters, while 48 were with the security forces.

Internet access and communications have also been cut off in the country.

Speaking in Egypt yesterday, Ms McEntee condemned the killing of protesters in Iran, while also voicing concerns about the cutting off of communications.

“I want to reiterate our absolute concern and condemnation of any attack on protesters in Iran.

“What is particularly concerning is the lack of communications or the ability to confirm what exactly what is happening on the ground,” she said.

“I would ask the question why would any country have a communications ban of this kind if there was nothing they were hiding.

“I would call on Iran to reengage with international partners to lift the communications ban and to work with partners to address the many concerns that citizens very clearly have.

“I would speak to Iranian citizens who are in our own country in Ireland, that we will stand up for and highlight where there are breaches of human rights, of international law and call for the safety of any protesters,” Ms McEntee added.

Asked about the prospect of further EU sanctions, as floated by EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas, the foreign affairs minister said Ireland would work with the bloc on the matter.

“My priority is always to ensure that fundamental human rights and international law is respected at all times and where that is not the case, we have to be strong not just in condemning and using words but showing that we follow through with actions as well,” she said.

Ms McEntee was speaking after a meeting with Egyptian foreign minister Badr Abdelatty on the outskirts of Cairo in the New Administrative Capital.

Discussions between the two ministers focused on regional conflicts, including the Israel-Gaza war and the ongoing work towards stage two of the ceasefire plan.

Ms McEntee described the the first stage of the ceasefire as being “imperfect”, saying there was “so much more that needs to be done”.

In particular, she said there needed to be more work done on humanitarian access for Gaza.

“It is simply unacceptable that the people of Gaza stll do not have access, so many of them, to food, to water, to shelter. That there are people dying of starvation, that they do not have the access that they need to medical support or equipment,” Ms McEntee said.

She said there needed to be “strong” condemnation of both the “very clear violations of the ceasefire” by Israel, as well as the blockade of aid into Gaza.

Mr Abdelatty said it would not be possible to reach a peace settlement unless the Palestinian people get their full rights, including establishment of their own state under the proposed 1967 borders.