Irish President Michael D. Higgins has accused the Israeli Embassy in Dublin of leaking a letter he wrote to Iran’s new President, Masoud Pezeshkian, sparking tensions between the two nations. The letter, which congratulated Pezeshkian on his appointment, praised Iran’s potential role in fostering peace in the Middle East but drew criticism for omitting any mention of Iran’s controversial actions in the region, including its support for militant groups.
Higgins defended the letter, calling it a standard diplomatic exchange, but suggested that Israeli officials had circulated the correspondence for political purposes. “You should ask where the criticism came from and how the letter was circulated and by whom,” Higgins remarked while attending the United Nations summit in New York.
The Israeli Embassy quickly dismissed Higgins’ accusations, labeling them as “baseless” and “potentially slanderous.” In a statement, the embassy pointed to the ongoing war with Hamas and accused Higgins of failing to acknowledge Iran’s destabilizing influence, including its support for groups like Hezbollah and Hamas.
The letter, which became public in July, drew criticism for its friendly tone towards Iran. Mark Dubowitz, CEO of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, and other officials expressed concern that the letter did not address Iran’s human rights violations or its role in regional conflicts.
In response to the backlash, Taoiseach Simon Harris defended President Higgins, stating that the focus should be on the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza, rather than diplomatic exchanges. Harris emphasized that Higgins’ comments were made in the context of broader concerns about peace and diplomacy in the region.
The exchange has added to growing tensions between Ireland and Israel, with the Israeli government recalling its ambassador earlier in the year due to Ireland’s recognition of a Palestinian state.
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