Netanyahu welcomes new measures

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday praised the European Union for the latest round of sanctions imposed on Iran, but reserved judgment on whether or not they would halt its nuclear drive. “I would like to commend the European Union on the harsh sanctions it adopted yesterday (Monday) against the greatest threat to peace in our time,” he told EU diplomats in Jerusalem, in remarks communicated by his office. “These are serious sanctions against Iran,” he said. “When the centrifuges stop spinning and the Iranian nuclear programme is halted, we shall know that they have achieved their aim,” he added. “I believe that all those who seek to ensure world peace and security share this aim, not only in the Middle East but throughout the world. These are momentous issues and momentous times,” Netanyahu said. Andrew Standley, the EU ambassador to Israel, said in public remarks at the meeting with Netanyahu that “Iran’s nuclear programme is a concern not only to Israel but also to the region and the wider international community”. Israel and much of the West believe that Iran is using its nuclear programme to develop an atomic weapons capability. Iran denies this, and says its activities are purely peaceful. And Israel, the Middle East’s sole—if undeclared—nuclear power, has refused to rule out a military strike to prevent that from happening.