Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly attended UK Government briefings on Saturday and Monday focused on Middle East conflict effects for the UK and the region. First Minister Michelle O'Neill skipped both sessions. The Monday briefing took place at PSNI headquarters in Belfast.

Little-Pengelly described O'Neill's absence as disappointing. She noted the sessions covered impacts on UK citizens, including those from Northern Ireland, with registrations exceeding 120,000 UK-wide, up from prior figures. Officials estimate around 300,000 Britons in affected countries, posing challenges for any evacuations.

O'Neill confirmed ongoing talks with UK and Irish governments. She prioritised assisting people from the region facing risks and spoke to reporters at Stormont. The Executive Office advised locals in the Middle East to register with UK or Irish foreign office portals.

DUP leader Gavin Robinson said the UK should have acted sooner and permitted RAF base use. He cited Iranian links to groups that targeted Northern Ireland. Little-Pengelly told MLAs she could not understand apparent backing for Iran among some, pointing to Sinn Féin's past ties there.

Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney backed O'Neill's choice, stressing citizen safety and calls for de-escalation plus diplomacy. Alliance MP Sorcha Eastwood said the briefings provide Northern Ireland input on local issues like consular aid for Irish passport holders. SDLP's Matthew O'Toole urged a unified regional approach over partisan disputes.

The tensions stem from Iranian missile launches at Israel and Arab states, US and Israeli strikes on Iran, and a drone incident at a British base in Cyprus. Iran's Red Crescent reported 555 deaths from the US-Israeli actions since the weekend.

Power-sharing returned at Stormont in February following a DUP boycott linked to post-Brexit arrangements, occasionally exposing foreign policy differences between DUP and Sinn Féin.