Israel: tougher sanctions against Iran

Israel’s Defence Minister Ehud Barak has warned that tougher measures must be taken against Iran despite the oil embargo agreed by the European Union earlier this week. Although he conceded that the EU sanctions would add significant pressure to the Tehran regime, Barak told Israel Radio the embargo was unlikely to force Iran to abandon its nuclear ambitions. "In my opinion, we are not there yet," he said. His comments followed those made on Monday by the Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in response to the EU decision. Netanyahu warned party colleagues that the impact of the embargo was unknown but it was a step in the right direction‚ hinting that he believed further measures would be needed. "Very strong and quick pressure on Iran is necessary," he said. "Sanctions will have to be evaluated on the basis of results. As of today, Iran is continuing to produce nuclear weapons without hindrance." Israel is determined to keep up the pressure, believing it faces an existential threat from the Tehran regime. On Sunday, Netanyahu told his cabinet that 70 years ago the Jewish people were unable to defend themselves against the Nazi genocide. "The difference between 1942 and 2012 is not the absence of enemies, that same desire to destroy the Jewish people and the state that has arisen," he said. "This desire exists and has not changed. The difference is our ability to defend ourselves and to do so with determination. Meanwhile, Iranian member of the parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Parviz Sorouri remarked that Tehran should facilitate closer economic and trade cooperation with the world's countries and adopt retaliatory measures against those states that play a role in anti-Iran efforts. Sorouri also decried the EU oil embargo as "psychological warfare," saying that the measure would backfire on the 27-member bloc. Earlier this month, Iranian Oil Minister Rostam Qassemi warned that imposing sanctions on Iran's oil industry would destabilise the world markets, adding that the sanctions policy was hence an "irrational move". Qassemi said Iran's policy was based on good relations with all countries, adding Tehran did not pursue severing ties with others. "The world needs our energy and our relations with other countries are based on fair relations and mutual respect," he said, adding that too many countries were eager to buy Iran's oil. Stating that the country was facing no problem in selling its oil, the official noted "Not only do we have many customers, but we also have sold our oil in advance."