The closure of Ireland’s embassy in Iran shows “where the international community thinks this conflict is heading”, according to a journalist.

The Tánaiste Simon Harris announced that “in light of the deteriorating situation” in the Middle East, Ireland’s embassy in Tehran, Iran’s capital, would close.

30/11/2024 Dublin, Ireland. General Election 2024. Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris speaks to media at the Shoreline count centre in Wicklow. Photograph: Eamonn Farrell / © RollingNews.ie

“Arrangements have been made for the embassy to continue its operations from our Dublin headquarters,” Minister Harris said.

“Staff at my department headquarters have no assume the embassies consular functions, and they will remain in contact with the small number of Irish citizens remaining in Iran.

“These arrangements will continue until it is possible and safe for our personnel to return to Iran.”

Political editor with the Irish Daily Mail Craigh Hughes told The Hard Shoulder that it’s a “very interesting development”.

“As the Tánaiste has said, the situation has now become too dangerous for them to operate there,” he said.

“I guess this really gives you a sense of where the international community thinks this conflict is heading for, and that isn’t for a solution in the immediate future.

“We know that Donald Trump, the US President, has said he will decide within the next two weeks whether the US will get involved militarily in this conflict or not, despite indicating that they already had done by saying, ‘We have controlled the skies’.”

Mr Hughes said the embassy had previously closed following the financial crash and had only been up and running for “the best part of the year”.

Main image: Smoke rises up after Israel's attack, in Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, June 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)