Michael D Higgins was slammed last month when the letter to Masoud Pezeshkian became public – but the Irish president says the note was sent as normal diplomatic practice
The President of Ireland has accused the Israeli Embassy in Dublin of circulating a letter he wrote to the President of Iran.
Michael D Higgins was slammed last month when the letter to Masoud Pezeshkian became public following his appointment as President of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Higgins said he had written the letter as “standard diplomatic practice” to congratulate a new head of state, and that there had been interest in nuclear talks with Iran.
Higgins told Pezeshkian that Iran played a “crucial role” in peace in the Middle East after his predecessor, Ebrahim Raisi, died in a helicopter crash in May. The letter read: “I regret of course the circumstances that brought about the election, and take the opportunity to repeat the condolences of the people of Ireland for the deaths of your predecessor President Raisi.”
But the Israeli Embassy in Dublin said Higgins’ comments were “baseless”, “highly inflammatory and potentially slanderous”.
At the United Nations (UN) in New York on Sunday, Higgins said he believed his letter was circulated by Israeli officials. He said: “You should ask where the criticism came from and how the letter was circulated and by whom and for what purpose”, adding: “It was circulated from the Israeli embassy” in Dublin.
In a statement, the Israeli embassy said: “Unfortunately in Ireland, since the October 7 invasion by Hamas and massacre in Israel, which triggered this awful war, Israel has been subjected to a high level of malicious statements and accusations that have often manifested as incitement to hatred. This baseless accusation is highly inflammatory and potentially slanderous, and the embassy rejects it completely.” It added that it is the “burden of the author to defend its content, which did not mention the threat Iran poses in the region”.
The spokesperson referenced the October 7 2023 attack by Hamas on concert goers in Israel, which saw around 1,200 people killed and more than 250 taken hostage. Meanwhile, Gaza’s health ministry reports that more than 40,000 people have been killed by the Israeli army since October 7 alone.
A spokesperson for the Irish president’s office said: “The exchange of letters upon the coming to office of a new head of state is standard diplomatic practice for countries which share diplomatic relations. As is usual practice, the letter in question was drafted based on material supplied by the Department of Foreign Affairs and issued via standard diplomatic channels.
” Such letters have been sent to incoming presidents of Iran for a number of decades. In response to questions, the president indicated his view that this standard diplomatic letter had been circulated over the summer and presented as being something out of the ordinary. The president made no accusations of a leak, he solely referred to the letter being circulated. In this context, the question of reporting does not arise.”
Defending the Irish president, Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris said his concerns were for the loss of life in Gaza. Harris said Israel “is continuing to allow a horrific humanitarian situation continue.” He added: “I think the Israeli embassy should be focusing on things other than amplifying, circulating or referencing a letter that does really conform with normal diplomatic protocol between heads of state.”
“Certainly, my focus here in New York is not on an exchange of letters, but is on the fact that there is still a horrific, bloody humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in the middle east.
“I have no interest whatsoever in getting into any sort of tit-for-tat or back-or-forth with the Israeli embassy or the government of a country that is continuing to allow this horrific humanitarian situation continue.”
