Taoiseach Micheál Martin addresses how Europe feels about US-Iran conflict

Irish Prime Minister Taoiseach Micheál Martin addressed how Europeans perceive the United States’ war against Iran as Operation Epic Rage enters its third week.

“From an Irish perspective, we prefer a peaceful resolution of the conflict if possible and ultimately believe in diplomacy and dialogue,” he said.

Martin appeared on “Special Report” ahead of his St. Patrick’s Day meeting with President Donald Trump on Monday, where he discussed international perceptions of the US-Iran conflict and Ireland’s relations with the United States.

The prime minister agrees with Trump’s stance that Iran should not obtain nuclear weapons, but differs from the United States on tactics to achieve that goal.

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“Everyone agreed that you cannot allow a rogue state like Iran to contain nuclear weapons,” Martin said. “And it was a very, very oppressive regime.”

Martin noted Ireland’s long-standing diplomatic approach, citing lessons the country had learned from the 30-year conflict between Protestant unionists and Catholic nationalists known as “The Troubles”.

“We fought on the island of Ireland, too,” he told Fox News. “It was 30 years of terrible conflict, and we learned a lot about how to resolve conflict.”

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The Taoiseach also pushed back against critics who said Ireland’s relations with the United States had become strained.

Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin is scheduled to meet with President Trump on Tuesday. (Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)

“We come with mutual respect. Of course, we don’t agree on everything,” he said. “And I think our relationship will continue to grow when we have mutual respect. “So there are 35 million people in America who claim to be Irish Americans.”

Martin highlighted the billions of dollars of Irish investment flowing into the United States and described the US-Ireland relationship as a “two-way economic street.”

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“$390 billion of investment, ongoing and ever-increasing over the years. Currently 800 Irish companies… employing around 200,000 people across America, demonstrating the transformation of the relationship between the US and Ireland,” Martin explained.

Martin is set to continue his annual tradition of presenting a bowl of shamrocks to the US president, and it reflects positively on his meeting with President Trump in 2025.

Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin presents a bowl of shamrocks to President Trump during a St. Patrick’s Day event at the White House on March 12, 2025. (Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images)

“I’m looking forward to the visit,” he said. “I had a lovely visit last year and we had a good engagement. He was a very kind person at that stage.”

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Martin also shared a message ahead of St. Patrick’s Day thanking the tens of millions of Americans of Irish descent for their contributions to both Ireland and the United States.

“This year at America 250, we want to acknowledge, in fact, the contribution you’ve made to America, the contribution you’ve made to America in the building of America, but you’ve also maintained your dual commitment to your country here in America, in your new country, but you’ve also maintained your commitment to Ireland, your commitment to Ireland and your defense of Ireland, which has been of great benefit to us,” he said.