Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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388. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the exact nature and objectives of discussions between Ireland and Iran to expand bilateral relations. [23345/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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My Department maintains dialogue with Iranian counterparts on a wide range of bilateral and international issues. 

One of the most important roles Ireland has been given on the Security Council is as Facilitator of Resolution 2231, covering the Iranian nuclear deal, the JCPOA. Ireland strongly supports all efforts to restore the JCPOA, and in this context we have engaged extensively with Iran to encourage them to seize the opportunity of agreement. I have visited Tehran twice for discussions with the President and Foreign Minister, most recently in February 2022. 

We have also discussed regional issues which feature heavily on the agenda of the Security Council. This includes Yemen, where I have encouraged Iran to use its influence to support UN led efforts towards peace, and the crisis in Afghanistan, which has significantly impacted Iran, which hosts millions of Afghan refugees. 

In our discussions with Iran we have also raised concerns over human rights, including freedom of expression, the use of the death penalty, and discrimination against women and religious minorities, including the Baha’i. 

Ireland intends to pursue this important dialogue. In August 2021, Ireland re-opened a diplomatic mission in Tehran, headed at Chargé d’Affaires level, with a view to re-opening a full Embassy in 2023.