A week after the United States and Israel launched their latest offensive against Iran, the war has left more than 1,000 people dead as it expands throughout the Middle East and beyond. Iran’s retaliatory missile and drone strikes against Israel and Gulf states that host US military bases have caused fewer casualties thanks to the effectiveness of missile defence systems. The US president has cited shifting war aims, from destroying Iran’s nuclear programme to disarming its missile arsenal to regime change. The greatest danger of a prolonged war is that, instead of replacing the government in Tehran with a new one, the US and Israel drive Iran into chaos and civil war. The Government’s position is the right one, not only in terms of principle and international law but also where Ireland’s interests are concerned.

Source: The Irish Times March 06, 2026 22:34 UTC