Taoiseach Micheál Martin Urges Diplomacy as U.S.-Iran Campaign Enters Third Week

Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin said many Europeans favor diplomacy and dialogue as the United States' campaign against Iran — dubbed Operation Epic Fury in media reports — entered its third week. Speaking on Fox News' "Special Report" ahead of his St. Patrick's Day visit to Washington, Martin emphasized Ireland's preference for peaceful conflict resolution while acknowledging the shared concern about Iran's nuclear ambitions.

"From the Irish perspective, we prefer peaceful resolution of conflict, if that's possible, and we ultimately believe in diplomacy and dialogue," Martin said.

Martin agreed with the goal of preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons but said he does not fully endorse all U.S. tactics used to pursue that objective.

Ireland's Prime Minister Micheál Martin is scheduled to meet with President Trump on Tuesday.

"Everyone has acknowledged that you cannot have a rogue state like Iran getting control of nuclear weapons," he said, adding that Iran has been "a very, very repressive regime."

The Taoiseach drew on Ireland's own recent history to explain Dublin's emphasis on negotiation and reconciliation. He referenced the three-decade conflict known as "The Troubles" between Protestant unionists and Catholic nationalists on the island of Ireland as formative for Ireland's approach to resolving disputes.

"We had war ourselves on the island of Ireland. It was a terrible 30-year conflict, and we learned a lot in terms of how to resolve conflict," Martin told the program.

U.S.-Irish Relationship

Responding to suggestions that ties between Ireland and the United States have become strained, Martin rejected that view and stressed a foundation of mutual respect despite occasional disagreements.

Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin presents President Trump with a bowl of clover during a St. Patrick’s Day event at the White House on March 12, 2025.

"We come with mutual respect. We don't agree on everything, of course," he said. "Once we have that mutual respect and so forth, I think the relationship will continue to grow. There are roughly 35 million Americans of Irish descent, and that cultural bond remains very strong."

Martin highlighted the depth of economic ties between the two countries, calling the partnership a "two-way economic street." He pointed to long-term investment and corporate presence as evidence of a transformed bilateral relationship: $390 billion in investment over the years and about 800 Irish companies employing roughly 200,000 people across the United States.

St. Patrick's Day and the Irish Diaspora

Continuing a long-standing tradition, Martin said he would present the U.S. president with a bowl of shamrocks during his St. Patrick's Day visit and reflected positively on his previous engagement with the U.S. president.

"I'm looking forward to the visit. I had a very good visit last year, and we had a good engagement," he said.

He also addressed Americans of Irish heritage ahead of the holiday, praising their historic contributions to the United States and their sustained commitment to Ireland.

"This year in the America 250, essentially, we want to affirm what you did — the contribution you made to America in building America — while also recognizing your enduring loyalty and advocacy for Ireland," Martin said.