Sinn Féin’s Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Seán Crowe TD, has welcomed the deal struck between negotiating countries on Iran’s nuclear programme.

Deputy Crowe said:

“I welcome that a deal has been struck between the negotiating countries and Iran over its nuclear programme.

“Iran, which has signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), has a right to develop nuclear energy for civilian and peaceful purposes.

“The interim deal is a historic and welcome first step, and positive news for all the countries involved and the wider Middle East region.

“Unfortunately Israel and its Prime Minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, have sought to derail the negotiating process.

“Israel has never signed the NPT and there is widespread, credible evidence that it has a stock of nuclear weapons. Rather than criticising this interim deal and continued negotiations, it should sign the NPT and destroy and nuclear weapons it may have.

“It is important that all sides in the process continued to talk and work towards creating peace and stability in the Middle East and globally.

“If we are to achieve peace and stability it is important that all countries work towards complete nuclear disarmament and leave nuclear energy for civilian and peaceful purposes only.”

ENDS