Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Government has consistently made clear its many and deep concerns about the human rights situation in Iran, and about Iran’s support of various armed groups in the region, including Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Palestine and AnsarAllah (the Houthis) in Yemen and various militias in Iraq and Syria.

The Government has also made clear its concerns about the supply by Iran of weapons and weapons technology to Russia, as it continues its brutal war of aggression against Ukraine.

The international community generally has been concerned for some time about Iran’s nuclear programme. These concerns had been largely addressed in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and UN Security Council Resolution 2231 (the implementation of which Ireland facilitated in its recent UNSC tenure), which was abrogated by the United States in 2018. Nevertheless, efforts continue with Iran to reach a resolution.

As a consequence of these many concerns, the EU has imposed a wide range of sanctions on individuals and entities in Iran, under human rights, nuclear and invasion of Ukraine sanctions regimes (and equivalent measures). Ireland has consistently supported the adoption of these sanctions.

The UN Human Rights Council in 2011 appointed a Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Iran, with the current holder of the mandate having been appointed in 2018. In November 2022, the Human Rights Council established an International Fact Finding Mission on Iran. Regrettably, the Government of Iran has not cooperated with either of these Special Procedures and they have not been able visit the country. Ireland supports both of these procedures.

In his report to the 52nd Session of the Human Rights Council the Special Rapporteur said that in his view the documented severe violations of multiple fundamental rights as part of an apparent policy instigated at the highest level of the State pointed to the possible commission of the crimes against humanity of murder, imprisonment, enforced disappearances, torture, rape and sexual violence, and persecution. These issues are of deep concern and Ireland will continue to raise all these issues in our engagement with Iran.