Irish citizens evacuated from Iran and Israel

Three Irish citizens and their dependants have been evacuated from Iran, the Irish government has said.

Tánaiste (deputy Irish prime minister) and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Harris said they would now "travel home".

On Sunday, a group of 15 Irish citizens and their dependants were moved out of Israel.

The evacuations come as Israel and Iran continue to trade missile strikes and the US launched an attack on Iranian nuclear sites.

"Throughout this crisis, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and our embassies have remained in regular contact with Irish citizens in the region," Harris said.

The Dublin government, Harris said, is urging Irish citizens in both Israel and Iran to "remain vigilant, to monitor developments and media, and to follow advice from the authorities, including when this is to shelter in place".

"All citizens in the region should register with the nearest Irish embassy, if they have not already done so," he said.

Harris added: "Our embassies will remain in close contact with all citizens in Israel and Iran over the days and weeks ahead. Our wider political work on the developing situation also continues."

The Irish foreign minister is due to attend a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels later on Monday.

A total of 29 Irish citizens in Iran had registered with the Irish embassy and about 200 citizens had registered with the embassy in Israel.

Harris said he had spoken on Sunday to Iran's deputy foreign minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi.

"I expressed grave concern at the developments overnight, strongly urged restraint and shared the view that it was not in the interests of the Iranian people or the Middle East as a region for hostilities to escalate," Harris said.

He said Ireland had a long standing commitment to nuclear disarmament, adding that concerns about Iran's nuclear programme should be addressed through dialogue.

Meanwhile, Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Micheál Martin called for "de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy" following the US attacks on Iran.

"Iran should commit not to develop nuclear weapons and disavow its nuclear and uranium enrichment programme," he 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."

Irish diplomats have been removed from Iran, Martin said, and the Dublin government is working with its European partners in relation to Irish citizens who want to leave either Iran, Israel, or the Middle East.

Martin added "we shouldn't lose sight of the catastrophe that is still unfolding in Gaza while the war between Iran and Israel continues".