Iran and Ireland
Ireland maintains a diplomatic channel with Iran despite disagreements over security and human rights. The relationship connects bilateral dialogue, European sanctions policy and the protection of Irish citizens in the region.
Analysis reviewed: 2026-10-24 · Indicators updated: 2026-10-07Bilateral indicators
Blank cells: data unavailable.
| Indicator | Value | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Goods trade | ||
| Goods: Iran to Ireland | ||
| Goods: Ireland to Iran | ||
| Services trade | ||
| Export share: Iran to Ireland | ||
| Export share: Ireland to Iran | ||
| Investment stock: Iran in Ireland | ||
| Investment stock: Ireland in Iran |
Definitions and sources
Trade adds both directions. Shares refer to the country’s total goods exports; investment is an accumulated stock, not an annual flow. Every figure retains the currency and period of its source. BEA positions are historical-cost estimates based on the immediate counterpart, not market values or investment by ultimate owner. ‘More than’ indicates a lower bound, not an exact amount. A recorded stock does not establish new activity or authorisation to operate under sanctions.
Country comparison
Period and source beside each figure · est. = estimate by the stated institution.
Some annual indicators refer to different years. Check the period beside each value before comparing them.
| Indicator | Iran | Ireland |
|---|---|---|
| Nominal GDP | 362.68 billion USD2025 · WB | 721.7 billion USD2025 · World Bank |
| GDP per capita | 3,924.38 USD2025 · WB | 131,592.46 USD2025 · World Bank |
| GDP growth | -2.83 %2025 · WB | 12.34 %2025 · World Bank |
| Policy interest rate | ||
| Inflation · annual average | 42.17 %Annual average · 2025 · WB | 2.21 %Annual average · 2025 · World Bank |
| Inflation · latest year-on-year figure | 3.7 %Year-on-year · 2026-08 · CSO Ireland | |
| Unemployment | 8.3 %ILO est.2025 · WB | 4.63 %ILO est.2025 · World Bank |
| Budget balance (% of GDP) | -5.7 %IMF est.2025 · IMF | 1.5 %IMF est.2025 · IMF |
| Gross public debt (% of GDP) | 37.3 %IMF est.2025 · IMF | 32.9 %IMF est.2025 · IMF |
| Current account balance (% of GDP) | 0.6 %IMF est.2025 · IMF | 17.4 %2024 · World Bank |
| Population | 92,417,6812025 · WB | 5,484,3672025 · World Bank |
| Area | 1,745,150 km²2023 · WB | 70,280 km²2023 · World Bank |
| Military expenditure | ||
| Military expenditure (% of GDP) |
Definitions, dates and sources
Blank cells are not zero. Average annual inflation and the latest year-on-year figure appear in separate rows: they are not the same measure. Every annual indicator retains its reference year; when the years differ, the figures are identified as not directly comparable. When a figure is unavailable from the World Bank, an annual IMF estimate is used and identified as such. The latest year-on-year figure is the latest official release verified as of 7 October 2026. This includes advance releases marked as provisional. Mexico may have a fortnightly figure before the full month is published; it is not automatically compared with a monthly figure. The publication date is retained in each source’s details; it does not replace the observation period or the annual average. Policy rates carry their own dates and represent different instruments. Spain and France share the ECB rate. Balances are positive for surpluses and negative for deficits. The IMF may use fiscal years; unemployment retains each source’s definition (ILO estimates, IMF WEO or PCBS), as stated in the details. For Palestine, debt and the fiscal balance cover central government and retain the PCBS definition; they are not presented as consolidated general government. These are economic magnitudes, not measures of relationship quality.
Area retains each source’s territorial coverage; it does not determine sovereignty or effective control. Canada uses an archived national geographic reference. Military expenditure retains the 2024 SIPRI sample distributed by the World Bank: the amount and percentage of GDP use that same definition, which differs from NATO’s. It is not an approved budget or a 2026 figure. Information from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Military expenditure database · Terms of use0
Indicators reviewed: 2026-10-07. Each source retains its original access date; this review does not turn all the data into 2026 observations. Figures may be revised.
- Nominal GDP
- Current USDIran: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.Ireland: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.
- GDP per capita
- Current USD per personIran: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.Ireland: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.
- GDP growth
- Annual real change (%)Iran: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.Ireland: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.
- Policy interest rate
- Central bank instrument (%)
- Inflation · annual average
- Average annual change in headline CPI (%)Iran: 2025 · Annual average change in the CPI (%) · World Bank · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.Ireland: 2025 · Annual average change in CPI (%) · World Bank · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.
- Inflation · latest year-on-year figure
- Headline CPI relative to the same period of the previous year (%); monthly or fortnightly frequency statedIreland: 2026-08 · Headline CPI; change against the same month of the previous year · CSO Ireland · National CPI, not European HICP: 3.7% against the same month of 2025.
- Unemployment
- % of the labour force; definition used by the stated institutionIran: 2025 · ILO modelled estimate, % of the labour force · World Bank · ILO est. · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.Ireland: 2025 · ILO modelled estimate, percentage of the labour force · World Bank · ILO est. · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.
- Budget balance
- General government (% of GDP)Iran: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · IMF WEO estimate, not a monthly observation. Retains the country's fiscal year where it differs from the calendar year.Ireland: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · IMF WEO general-government estimate. Retains the source’s fiscal year when it differs from the calendar year.
- Gross public debt
- General government (% of GDP)Iran: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · IMF WEO estimate, not a monthly observation. Retains the country's fiscal year where it differs from the calendar year.Ireland: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · IMF WEO general-government estimate. Retains the source’s fiscal year when it differs from the calendar year.
- Current account balance
- % of GDPIran: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · IMF WEO estimate. The annual reference may follow Iran's fiscal calendar.Ireland: 2024 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.
- Population
- PeopleIran: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.Ireland: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date. Extrapolated assuming the same growth rate as the previous 6 months.
- Area
- Total area in km²; territorial coverage of the sourceIran: 2023 · World Bank / FAO · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.Ireland: 2023 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.
- Military expenditure
- Current USD per year; SIPRI series
- Military expenditure (% of GDP)
- Percentage of GDP; SIPRI definition, not NATO’s definition
Other data specific to this relationship
What they buy and sell
Documented selection, not an exhaustive list. Cells without a figure do not mean zero value; some products are identified without a verified amount.
Iran to Ireland
| Product or sector | Value / share |
|---|---|
Ireland to Iran
| Product or sector | Value / share |
|---|---|
Connections between people
Consular assistance is a practical dimension of the relationship. The Irish embassy page provides contact information and warns of limitations on emergency assistance. A consular channel should not be confused with a guarantee of travel safety. [7]
Residents, study and travel
Blank cells: data unavailable. Each measure retains its definition and period.
| Indicator | Value | Period / source |
|---|---|---|
| Residents from Iran living in Ireland | ||
| Residents from Ireland living in Iran | ||
| Study and training: Iran in Ireland | ||
| Study and training: Ireland in Iran | ||
| Academic stays: Iran in Ireland | ||
| Academic stays: Ireland in Iran | ||
| Travel: Iran to Ireland | ||
| Travel: Ireland to Iran |
What each figure measures
Residents are counted by nationality and the coverage of the stated register, not as people born in the other country or as new arrivals in one year. PERE includes dual nationals and people born outside Spain. Study with OPT and stays carrying academic credit are different measures. Travel may include several visits by the same person; FRONTUR arrivals require an overnight stay, whereas the Canadian survey includes day visits. These figures are neither added together nor automatically compared across directions.
Mobility data added or reviewed: 2026-10-07. Reference periods may be earlier.
Underlying ties
History, institutions and long-standing issues.
Restoring a diplomatic presence
Ireland closed its Tehran embassy in 2012 for reasons related to the financial crisis. In March 2021 it announced the restoration of a diplomatic mission. A government answer to Parliament in May 2024 confirmed that the embassy was operating again in premises provided by Germany. Maintaining an embassy expresses a willingness to engage, not support for every policy of the host government. [1] [2]
Nuclear dialogue and political disagreements
During its 2021–2022 UN Security Council term, Ireland served as facilitator of Resolution 2231 on the Iranian nuclear agreement. Minister Simon Coveney’s February 2022 visit to Tehran focused on restoring that agreement. In March 2024, the Irish government told Parliament of its concerns about human rights, nuclear activities, Iranian support for Russia and regional armed groups. [3] [4]
Recent developments
Recent developments and latest available data · Reviewed: 2026-10-24
The temporary relocation of staff in June 2025
On 20 June 2025, Ireland announced the temporary relocation of its personnel from Tehran because of deteriorating security during the Israel–Iran conflict. Embassy operations would continue from Dublin. The decision was not presented as a diplomatic rupture. That statement describes a dated measure: it does not establish where every official works today. [5]
The European framework of restrictions
On 29 September 2025, the EU Council reimposed restrictive measures linked to Iran’s nuclear programme. They include asset freezes and restrictions on designated individuals and entities. For Ireland, as a member state, economic relations operate within that European framework. Sanctions do not mean that every transaction is prohibited: their scope depends on the applicable rules and designations. [6]
Sources and data
Periods and scope of the figures
Diplomatic events retain their dates. Trade amounts, investment and traveller flows have not been estimated to fill empty cells.
- Re-establishment of an Irish diplomatic presence
Government of Ireland · Institutional source · Document: 2021-03-02 · Accessed: 2026-10-24
- Official engagements: Iran
Houses of the Oireachtas · Institutional source · Document: 2024-05-28 · Accessed: 2026-10-24
- Visit of Minister Coveney to Iran
Government of Ireland · Institutional source · Document: 2022-02-14 · Accessed: 2026-10-24
- International relations: Iran
Houses of the Oireachtas · Institutional source · Document: 2024-03-05 · Accessed: 2026-10-24
- Statement on the situation in Iran
Government of Ireland · Institutional source · Document: 2025-06-20 · Accessed: 2026-10-24
- Iran sanctions snapback
Council of the European Union · Institutional source · Document: 2025-09-29 · Accessed: 2026-10-24
- Embassy of Ireland, Iran
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Ireland · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-24