Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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242. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will defer the decision to reopen the Irish Embassy in Tehran given the ruthless suppression of human rights by the regime in Iran, the murder of women and children by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the Iranian support for Russia in the latter's ongoing invasion of Ukraine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60106/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Irish Embassy in Iran was closed in 2012 for financial reasons. In 2021 the government decided to re-establish an Irish diplomatic presence in Iran in two phases. The first phase began in August 2021 with the appointment of a Chargé d’affaires in Tehran, with the Irish diplomatic mission co-located in the German Embassy in Tehran. The Irish Embassy in Ankara remains accredited to Iran. The second phase involves the re-opening of the Embassy in Tehran in 2023. While planning is underway on this basis, as with all Embassy openings, plans are regularly reviewed in the light of political and security developments.

An Irish Embassy in Tehran will allow Ireland to more effectively deliver clear and firm messages directly to the Iranian government, including on issues like human rights and Iran’s nuclear activities. Ireland’s diplomatic presence since August 2021 has been critical for engagement with Iran on a number of key regional files we have worked on at the UN Security Council, including Yemen, Syria, and the Iran nuclear deal.

In my contacts with the Iranian Foreign Minister in September and October, and with the Iranian Ambassador in Dublin, I have made it very clear that Ireland expects Iran to uphold its international obligations, particularly the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. These instruments enshrine the rights of freedom of assembly, freedom of speech, and the fundamental and unalienable rights of women and girls.

The EU has also expanded its Human Rights Sanctions regime to include individuals involved in the death of Mahsa Amini and in the response of the security forces to protestors. The EU has also adopted sanctions against Iranian individuals and entities involved in the supply of drones to Russia.

At UN level, the Security Council held a meeting on Iran’s transfer of drones to Russia on 19 October. The supply of drones to Russia is a serious violation of Iran’s obligations under UN Security Council 2231, which endorses the Iran nuclear deal. Under the JCPOA, Iran is prohibited from the export of drones. Ireland is facilitator of Resolution 2231, and we will present our final facilitator’s report in December. Ireland supported the call to hold a special session of the Human Rights Council on 24 November, which adopted a resolution establishing a fact finding mission to investigate and report on the situation in Iran.

Officials from my Department will continue to monitor developments in Iran, and to raise our concerns directly with the Iranian government. We will continue to coordinate closely with our partners in the EU to ensure there is a joint, coordinated, and clear response to the actions of the Iranian authorities.