Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I was concerned at what we were all seeing on our phones and television screens about what was unfolding in Iran, so I requested the Iranian ambassador to come in to explain what was going on in his country and to express my concern and condemnation for what I thought and still think is a violent response by police to predominantly peaceful protests. He said some of the protests were not peaceful and the Iranian Government had a responsibility to restore order to its streets and cities, which is what it was trying to do. I found that explanation less than credible, given the age profile and behaviour of many of the protestors, including children, girls and students. No country should look back at the management of protests and the death of nearly 60 children and say it was an effort to restore order. It was a straight discussion. I hope I expressed the concern, revulsion and condemnation of this House about some of the images we have seen.

I also asked the ambassador about the supply of drones to Russia following some of the images we have seen. From an EU perspective, it is part of a convincing body of evidence that Iran has supplied drones to Russia that are now being used to target civilians and civilian infrastructure. He gave a clear rejection of that and said that Iran has not provided drones to Russia before this war or during it. Since that meeting, I understand that Iran has accepted that it has supplied a limited number of drones to Russia in advance of this conflict.

It was a necessary, blunt discussion to express our concern at what I think is a shared criticism in this House of how Iran is behaving in responding to legitimate protests in its own country and the supply of weapons that have been directly targeting civilians in Europe.

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