Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 May 2018
114. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will be raising concerns regarding the withdrawal of the USA from the Iran nuclear deal at the next EU Council meeting; and if he has spoken to other EU leaders regarding same since the withdrawal. [21060/18]
View answer115. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the decision of the United States of America to withdraw from the Iran nuclear accord and the wider implications for the Middle East; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21426/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 114 and 115 together.
I issued the following public statement on 8 May in response to the decision of the United States Government:
“I am greatly disappointed by the US announcement that it is withdrawing from the nuclear agreement with Iran (the JCPOA). Ireland and our EU partners, and a very broad spectrum of international opinion have made clear that we believe the JCPOA was a significant diplomatic achievement, and that all parties to it should implement it in full.
"We share many of the concerns which the US has expressed about other aspects of Iranian policy, but the way to address these is not to move away from the one area where significant positive progress has been made. That remains our view, and I hope that the United States will reconsider this decision.
"I hope that all other parties to the agreement, including Iran but also the EU and others, will continue to implement the agreement. The Middle East, and the world, are safer and more stable with this agreement in operation."
Similar statements were issued by the European Union, and by other partners. In recent days, I have discussed these developments with my French counterpart, during his visit to Dublin.
The possibility and implications of US withdrawal from the nuclear agreement had been discussed at each of the most recent meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council, and I have no doubt will be discussed at the next Council on 28 May. Ministers will need to discuss the prospects for continued implementation of the agreement, which all of the other parties to it have said they hope to do. Ireland will fully support that objective.
