The EU has activated its civil defence mechanism in order to help member states evacuate citizens from the Middle East, as the Israel-Iran war enters its fifth day.
Following a video conference of 27 EU foreign ministers this morning, the EU's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said: "We have member states that have planes evacuating citizens, we have member states that don't have planes, and we are coordinating efforts so that our citizens are safe."
Earlier, Tánaiste Simon Harris, who participated in the meeting, said a small number of Irish citizens in Tel Aviv and Tehran had indicated they would like to avail of evacuation orders if they were issued.
He confirmed he had been in contact with the Embassies in both Iran, which has 30 registered Irish citizens, and in Israel, which has 200.
Speaking to reporters after the video conference, Ms Kallas said the EU could now play a bigger diplomatic role in de-escalating the conflict and dealing with the Iranian nuclear programme, given that the Iran-US talks had stalled, adding that she had been in touch with both the Israeli and Iranian foreign ministers.
"It was clear that now, as the Iran and US talks [on the nuclear programme] have run into some kind of stand still, that actually the European Union, and Europe as such, has a role to play," she said.
"The European Union can and will play its part in reaching a diplomatic solution. We are in contact with Iran as well as the Israelis to really de-escalate the situation, because the stability of the region is everybody's interest.
"That's why we're also in contact with the regional partners. They are very worried about the spillover effect and the tensions rising in the region, and we are willing to work with them."
Ms Kallas said there was consensus among 27 EU foreign ministers that Iran could not develop a nuclear weapon, although she acknowledged there were different views compared to the United States on Iran’s right to develop a nuclear programme for civilian purposes.
"There was a call on all sides to abide by international law, exercise restraint and avoid actions that could spiral out of control. We all agreed the urgent need for de-escalation. Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb, and diplomacy is the solution to prevent this."
She also warned against the United States entering the conflict.
"When it comes to the United States getting involved, then it will definitely drag the region into a broader conflict and this is in nobody's interest. From my call with the Secretary of State, [Marco] Rubio, he emphasised that it's also not in their interest to be drawn into this conflict."
