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Israel thanks Trump as Iran sanctions take effect
JERUSALEM, Nov 5, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor
Lieberman welcomed US sanctions that took effect Monday targeting Iran’s oil
and financial sectors, calling it a “critical” blow to Tehran’s actions in
the region.
“President (Donald) Trump’s bold decision is the sea-change the Middle
East has been waiting for,” Lieberman said in a statement.
“In a single move, the United States is dealing a critical blow to Iran’s
entrenchment in Syria, Lebanon, Gaza, Iraq and Yemen. President Trump, you’ve
done it again! Thank you.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday also thanked Trump
for the sanctions against his country’s main enemy.
The measures described by Washington as “the toughest sanctions ever”
follow Trump’s controversial decision in May to abandon the multi-nation
nuclear deal with Tehran.
They aim to significantly reduce Iran’s oil exports — which have already
fallen by around one million barrels a day since May — and cut it off from
international finance.
Israel had long opposed the Iran nuclear deal, saying it was too limited
in scope and timeframe.
It also said the lifting of sanctions allowed Iran to finance militant
groups and its own military activity.
Israel is particularly concerned with Iran’s involvement in neighbouring
Syria and has pledged to keep it from entrenching itself militarily there.
The other parties to the nuclear deal — Britain, France, Germany, China
and Russia — opposed the US move and say the accord is working as intended
in keeping Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons for now.
BSS/AFP/GMR/1402 hrs