The EU’s response to Iran is ‘reminiscent of Europe’s appeasement in the 30s,’ Netanyahu says
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has criticized the European Union’s (EU) Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini for her decision not to take action against Iran at this time, despite the country’s blatant breach of the 2015 nuclear deal.
Benjamin Netanyahu Photo by Esty Dziubov/TPS
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed earlier this month that Iran had increased its uranium enrichment levels, violating the nuclear agreement.
Spokesman of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Behrouz Kamalvandi announced the start of enriching uranium to a higher level than 3.67 percent, although he declined to disclose the final enrichment level.
Similarly, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif confirmed that Tehran’s stockpile of 3.67 percent enriched uranium has exceeded the 300kg limit stated in the nuclear deal.
Mogherini stated Monday that “for the time being, none of the parties to the agreement have signaled their intention to invoke this article [relating to disputes in the agreement], which means that none of them for the moment, for the time being with the current data we have had in particular from the IAEA, that the non-compliance is considered to be significant non-compliance.”
“The deal is not in good health, but it’s still alive. We hope and we invite Iran to reverse these steps and go back to full compliance with the agreement,” she said.
The EU’s response is “reminiscent of Europe’s appeasement in the 1930s,” Netanyahu charged, relating to Britain attempts to appease Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany. “Then as well, there were those who buried their heads in the sand and did not see the approaching danger.”
“Apparently, there are those in Europe who will not wake up until Iranian nuclear missiles fall on European soil. But then it will be too late,” he warned.
In any case, Israel “will do everything to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.”
President Donald Trump responded to Iran’s breach of the agreement with a threat of more sanctions.
“Sanctions will soon be increased, substantially!” he tweeted last week. “Iran has long been secretly ‘enriching,’ in total violation of the terrible 150 Billion Dollar deal made by John Kerry and the Obama Administration. Remember, that deal was to expire in a short number of years.”
The US re-imposed crippling sanctions on Iran’s economy after it left the nuclear deal. The sanctions ended all the economic benefits the US granted Tehran for the nuclear deal. The new sanctions particularly hurt Iran’s oil industry, a crucial source of currency for its weak economy. Its national currency has plummeted, sending prices skyrocketing.
Most recently, the US in June imposed sanctions on Iran’s Supreme Ayatollah Leader Ali Khamenei, his office, and its appointees.
