Dublin MEP Barry Andrews has sharply criticised Israel’s recent military strikes on Iran, warning the attacks could trigger widespread instability across the Middle East.
Speaking this morning, Andrews condemned what he described as “highly reckless and unilateral pre-emptive military strikes” by Israel, which targeted more than a dozen sites in Iran, including the country’s key nuclear facility at Natanz.
The Israeli government said the operation, named Rising Lion, was aimed at rolling back what it called the “Iranian threat to Israel’s very survival”. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed the campaign would continue for “many days”.
In a strongly-worded statement, Andrews acknowledged Iran’s poor human rights record but warned that Israel’s military actions could dangerously escalate tensions.
“Iran is a repressive regime which denies human rights to its citizens, but Israel’s highly reckless and unilateral pre-emptive military strikes on Iran overnight must be condemned,” he said.
He drew a historical comparison between Netanyahu’s speech and President George W. Bush’s 2003 justification for the U.S. invasion of Iraq.
“The international community did address the Iran nuclear issue in 2015 with a painstakingly negotiated agreement, coordinated with the EU,” Andrews noted.
“However, it was President Trump who withdrew from that multilateral deal in 2018.”
The Fianna Fáil MEP added that Iran has taken “seriously regressive steps” since the collapse of the 2015 nuclear accord. He said he had called for stronger EU action on Iran as recently as 2023, but said the current military escalation is the wrong response.
“This unilateral military strike on Iran risks an outbreak of regional violence and instability,” he said.
Andrews also highlighted a key upcoming decision by EU Foreign Ministers, who will meet on June 23 to review the EU-Israel trade agreement.
The agreement is considered economically vital for Israel and could become a pressure point in diplomatic efforts.
“Now is the time for the EU to finally act,” Andrews said.
The escalating conflict between Israel and Iran is being closely watched by global leaders, amid fears it could drag neighbouring countries into a broader confrontation.