President Michael D. Higgins has claimed that a letter he sent to Iran’s newly-elected president was leaked to the media by the Israeli embassy in Dublin.
The letter, addressed to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, became a source of controversy after it was publicly revealed last month.
Speaking at a press conference during his visit to the United Nations in New York, President Higgins addressed the issue, stating that he had written the letter in accordance with diplomatic norms for newly elected heads of state.
However, criticism arose, particularly from members of Ireland’s Fine Gael party, questioning the appropriateness of communicating with Iran, given the country’s international reputation.
In response to the allegations, the Israeli embassy issued a strong denial.
Calling the accusations “highly inflammatory and potentially slanderous,” the embassy ultimately rejected any involvement in leaking the letter. They also criticised President Higgins for reaching out to Iran, citing the country’s history of human rights abuses and its destabilising actions in the Middle East, including supporting groups like Hamas and Hezbollah.
“The letter did not mention the threat Iran poses in the region, its calls for Israel’s destruction, or its support for terrorist organizations,” the embassy’s statement said. The letter, they added, sent “the wrong message to the people of Iran living under this brutal regime.”
At the time of its publication in August, the leaked letter sparked further backlash, with critics highlighting Iran’s controversial stance in the Middle East and its treatment of its own citizens.
President Pezeshkian assumed office in July following the death of former President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash. Responding to reporters’ questions, President Higgins said, “You should ask where the criticism came from, how the letter was circulated, by whom, and for what purpose.”
Higgins expressed uncertainty about how the Israeli embassy might have obtained the letter but suggested it had been shared with a journalist.
He also noted that the Israeli ambassador to Ireland was not currently in residence, following Israel’s decision to recall its ambassador in May in protest of Ireland’s recognition of Palestinian statehood.
Defending his letter, Higgins reiterated that it was a standard diplomatic communication and focused on peace and diplomacy in the Middle East.
The controversy continues as Higgins attends the UN Summit of the Future in New York, where he delivered a speech at the United Nations headquarters.
