McEntee refuses to say if US breached international law with attack on Iran

Helen McEntee said: 'It’s very clearly outside of the UN mandate and in order for the conflict that we believe should be justified, there needs to be a UN mandate from the UN Security Council.'

Helen McEntee repeatedly declined to answer whether she believed the US and Israeli attacks on Iran had breached international law.

Foreign affairs minister Helen McEntee has refused to say whether she believes the US has breached international law with the attacks on Iran — but that it is “clear” there is no UN mandate for war.

Ms McEntee repeatedly declined to answer whether she believed the US and Israeli attacks on Iran had breached international law.

“It’s very clear they don’t have a UN mandate, they don’t have a mandate from the US [Congress] either," she said.

“For this type of action to take place, we do believe that they should have one.” 

Repeatedly asked if not having a UN mandate meant the attacks were outside international law, Ms McEntee said: “It’s very clearly outside of the UN mandate and in order for the conflict that we believe should be justified, there needs to be a UN mandate from the UN Security Council.” 

Asked why she had stopped short of saying the attack has breached international law, Ms McEntee said everyone can see the “extremely difficult situation” in the Middle East.

Ms McEntee said much of this difficulty had been “caused by Iran”.

“I think we're all grappling with the fact that Iran has not only subdued and massacred its own citizens and population in recent decades and recently in recent weeks, but it has essentially contributed to state-sponsored terrorism for many regions,” Ms McEntee said.

“So much of the instability and conflict that has been caused in the region has been at the hands of Iran.” 

Ms McEntee said everyone wanted to see an “improvement and a change”, adding that the Iranian people should be able to “set out their own destiny”.

“At the same time, it is essential that if this type of conflict is to take place with that overall objective, which we all share that the people of Iran and choose and direct their own destiny, that it is done so in accordance with the UN.

“What I’m saying here today is we do not believe there is an UN mandate for this. However, it is not for Ireland to decide that.

“I can’t be any clearer — there should be a UN mandate for any type of action like this.” 

Asked if the Coalition is being cautious in its approach due to the upcoming visit by Taoiseach Micheál Martin to the White House, Ms McEntee said the Government often uses the trip to raise concerns.