Jerusalem, August 24: As Israel seeks to win the West’s support for imposing tougher sanctions on Iran, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu plans to raise the issue with his British and German counterparts.
During his four-day visit to two European countries, Netanyahu will discuss imposing stronger sanctions on Iran with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Tuesday and German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday. He will also meet US President Barack Obama’s Middle East envoy George Mitchell.
As Iran will be a main component of Netanyahu’s talks, he will tell the two top European officials that if stronger sanctions are imposed on Tehran now, the less likely a need will be for “non-diplomatic” action later, the Jerusalem Post reported.
Israel has long threatened to put an end to Iran’s nuclear program, which it describes as a ‘threat’ to its existence, by resorting to military action.
Despite US President Barack Obama’s promise to open talks with Iran over its nuclear activities, the White House has extended Clinton era sanctions against the country.
The US Senate has also voted to impose sanctions on companies that ship gasoline and other refined oil products to Iran, in an attempt to force Tehran to halt its uranium enrichment activities.
Iran, the world’s fifth-largest crude exporter, possesses one of the world’s largest oil and gas reserves, but is forced to import 40 percent of its gasoline to meet its growing demand.
The Israeli premier is expected to make recommendations to step up sanctions including bans on insurance for companies doing business with Iran, additional sanctions against Iranian banks, bans on investment, and terminating Iranian landing and docking rights at airports and seaports around the world.
Amid controversy surrounding the issue of foreign pressure on Iran, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Thursday that his country has taken “all necessary measures” to cope with possible sanctions on its gasoline imports.
He argued that Iran had predicted the “plot” and had taken measures to counter the “ineffective” move.
Some countries in the West, spearheaded by the US and Israel, accuse Iran of pursuing a nuclear weapons program under the guise of peaceful enrichment activities — an allegation dismissed by Tehran and disputed by the UN nuclear watchdog.
Iran, a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), maintains that its nuclear program is solely aimed at peaceful purposes, reiterating that it has answered all questions remaining over its nuclear work.
The five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany are expected to convene in early September to discuss the next steps to be taken regarding Iran’s nuclear work
—–Agencies