Taoiseach welcomes postponement of strikes against Iranian energy infrastructure

Micheal Martin has welcomed the announcement by Donald Trump that the US has “postponed” military strikes against energy infrastructure in Iran, following talks with Tehran.

But the Taoiseach would not be drawn on whether the announcement would affect the Government’s imminent measures to tackle rising fuel prices.

The US president had threatened to obliterate Iran’s power plants if the country did not reopen the vital Strait of Hormuz by just before midnight on Monday night.

However, in a post on his Truth Social platform, Mr Trump said he would delay the strikes by five days following “very good and productive conversations” with Tehran over the previous two days.

Coalition leaders are due to meet on Monday evening to discuss a package of measures to help with the rise in energy and fuel prices caused by the US and Israel’s war in Iran.

That package of measures is set to be announced on Tuesday.

On Monday morning Mr Martin was in Walkinstown, Dublin as he and Minister for Housing James Browne announced plans for the Land Development Agency (LDA) and the O’Flynn Group to deliver 542 new homes in the area.

Speaking to reporters, Mr Martin said: “I welcome the announcement by the American president that they have postponed any attacks on Iranian oil and gas infrastructure.

“It’s critical that spreads across the region. It’s critical that the war ends.”

Following Mr Trump’s announcement, crude oil prices dropped, with Brent crude oil falling by up to 10%, later settling at around 8% lower at just under 104 dollars a barrel.

Asked if this would affect the Government’s plans, Mr Martin said they are looking at “temporary, targeted measures”.

He said rising fuel prices have “already had an impact on people”, but said he would not get “into specifics” about whether Monday’s drop in oil prices would affect the planned supports.

“The figures are volatile, we know that,” he said. “They’ve been up and down.”

The Taoiseach also said there needed to be “a more sustained engagement with the haulage industry”.

He was addressing reports that hauliers had said short-term measures would not help their sector, which he described as “a key part” of Irish trade.

Mr Martin said the plans being announced on Tuesday need to be “measured and informed”.

He added: “I feel we do need a set of proposals to deal with the haulage industry in the long term, to make sure that it’s a viable, sustainable industry.”