Any regime change in Iran should happen from within: Micheál Martin
Demonstrators rally outside the White House on Sunday to protest the US military strike on three sites in Iran. Picture: AP/Jose Luis Magana
If a regime change is to happen in Iran, it should happen from within Iran, according to Taoiseach Micheál Martin.
He was reacting to the weekend decision by the US to send planes and submarines into Iran to attack sites linked to Iran’s nuclear programme, in Fordow, Isfahan and Natanz.
It came after Israel launched strikes on Iran 10 days earlier, also targeting the country’s nuclear programme.
Iran has issued threats to retaliate, while US president Donald Trump also warned of further action.
US defence secretary Pete Hegseth said on Sunday the mission was not "and has not been about regime change". However, Mr Trump said on Truth Social on Sunday: “It’s not politically correct to use the term, ‘Regime Change,’ but if the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn’t there be a Regime change??? MIGA!!!”
Responding, Mr Martin said on Monday: “We all know what can transpire. We saw it in Iraq, we saw it in Libya, we saw it in Syria, and it is very very important — any changes, if changes have to happen, should happen from within Iran.
“In respect of Iran, we must all learn lessons from what happened in Libya, what happened in Syria, what happened in Iraq in the past. That has to be a clear focus in terms of how the situation should be managed. In our view, those involved should now de-escalate. Diplomacy and dialogue is the only way forward.”
Mr Martin added: “We need first of all an absolute de-escalation, we need an end to the war, we need an end to the war in Gaza, terrible slaughter of the innocents in Gaza which cannot continue.
"We need a huge surge of humanitarian aid into Gaza.”
