Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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178. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the means by which he will ensure the enforcement of sanctions against Iran agreed at the UN Security Council; to outline trade between Ireland and Iran; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51003/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The European Union implements all sanctions adopted by the United Nations Security Council.

EU Regulations relating to sanctions have direct effect in Irish law, meaning that they must be complied with in the same way as domestic Irish legislation.

As such, a natural or legal person who contravenes a provision of an EU sanctions Regulation would be guilty of an offence and liable to prosecution.

My Department chairs the Cross Departmental International Sanctions Committee - an interdepartmental group which monitors, reviews, and coordinates the implementation, administration and exchange of information on sanctions in Ireland.

The EU has a number of concerns with Iran including the nuclear issue, Iran’s support of Russia in its war of aggression against Ukraine, Iran's violation of human rights. It has in consequence imposed a range of sanctions on individuals and entities in Iran.

Ireland understands the position of the E3 (France, Germany and the UK) to initiate the snapback mechanism to re-impose UN sanctions on Iran through the UN Security Council as provided for in the JCPOA agreement and Security Council Resolution 2231. This is a direct consequence of Iran not complying with the JCPOA’s requirements. To avert re-imposition of sanctions and to extend the JCPOA, Iran must engage meaningfully in negotiations on a new nuclear agreement, and allow the IAEA to resume inspections in Iran.

Ireland has had the longstanding position that a negotiated solution is needed to address Iran’s nuclear programme and international concerns about nuclear proliferation.

As a consequence of sanctions, Ireland, and other EU Member States, have very limited trade volumes with Iran and only in goods which are not subject to sanctions. In 2024 goods exports to Iran were valued at €41 million and imports were valued at less than €1 million.