Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern said today Ireland would not back any war against Iran over its nuclear programme after predicting it would descend into "a Third World war".
Britain, France and Germany have called for the Middle East country to be referred to the UN Security Council for refusing to co-operate with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
The crisis intensified earlier this week when Iran removed seals at three nuclear facilities following a two-year suspension of its nuclear energy programme.
Mr Ahern today predicted that an armed conflict against Iran could create a very dangerous situation. "Ireland would not support military action in this at all. If military action was involved you're talking about basically a third world war."
He added: "If Iran is able to get nuclear weapons or have the threat of nuclear weapons, people just have to be aware that this is a very dangerous and difficult situation."
Mr Ahern said he agreed with the IAEA which believes Iran has plans to manufacture nuclear arms. "The independent inspection agencies have come up with the very strong conclusions that Iran is not telling the full truth and is hiding aspects which would lead us to believe that they are on their way to producing nuclear weapons."
The Minister also urged the international community to keep the lines of communication open with Iran.
Earlier, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said Iran's chief nuclear negotiator had told him Iran was still interested in constructive talks but within a time-frame.
Mr Annan said he was keen for the issue to be resolved through the IAEA, if possible.